Mogons facts for kids
Mogons or Moguns was an ancient Celtic god. People worshipped him in places like Roman Britain (which is now England and Wales) and Gaul (which is mostly modern France). We know about Mogons because Roman soldiers left special stone altars dedicated to him.
What Does the Name Mogons Mean?
The name Mogons comes from an old Celtic word. Experts like J.T. Koch from the University of Wales say it means "great" or "mighty." This word is similar to ancient words in other languages, like "mahānt" in Sanskrit, which also means "great."
Where People Worshipped Mogons
Many stone altars dedicated to Mogons have been found in the United Kingdom. These altars were often set up by Roman soldiers who wanted to honor the god. The names on the stones are usually in a form that means "to the god."
Here are some places where altars to Mogons were found:
- Voreda (Old Penrith): Stones found here have names like "Mogti" and "Mounti."
- Castra Exploratorum (Netherby, Cumbria): An altar here says "Mogont Vitire."
- Habitancum (Risingham): Stones mention "Mogonito" and "Mouno."
- Bremenium (High Rochester): An altar here says "Mountibus," which means "to the Mogons" (plural).
- Vindolanda (Chesterholm): A stone found here says "Mogunti et Genio Loci," meaning "to Mogons and the Spirit of the Place."
The modern city of Mainz in Germany gets its name from a Roman army base called Castrum Moguntiacum. Some people think that Mogons might have given his name to this Roman base.
An interesting inscription at Habitancum mentions "Deo Mogonito Cad..." The rest of the word "Cad" is missing. This area was once home to a Scottish tribe called the Gadeni. Some think "Cad" might refer to the Gadeni tribe. Another idea is that "Cad" comes from an old word meaning "battle," suggesting Mogons might have been a god of battle.
Because other gods worshipped in the region, like Grannus, were Celtic, Mogons is also believed to be a Celtic god. The ending "-uns" in his name is a special Celtic ending.
Where You Can See Artifacts
You can see some of the altars dedicated to Mogons in museums today:
