Ocelus facts for kids

Ocelus was an ancient Celtic god known from three special stone carvings found in Roman Britain. These carvings, called inscriptions, tell us about how people worshipped him a long time ago.

Who Was Ocelus?

Ocelus was a god from the Celts, who were people living in Europe, including Britain, before and during the Roman Empire. He was especially important in what is now Wales, possibly to a group of people called the Silures. People believed Ocelus was a protector, much like the Roman god Mars.

Where Was Ocelus Worshipped?

Most of what we know about Ocelus comes from a place called Caerwent in Wales. Here, two important inscriptions were found:

• One stone was part of a statue. Only the feet remain – a pair of human feet and a pair of goose feet! This statue was dedicated to Ocelus, along with Mars Lenus and Vellaunus, and also to the spirit of the Roman emperor. This happened on August 23, AD 152.
• The second inscription at Caerwent was an altar dedicated simply to Mars Ocelus.

Ocelus was also honored in Carlisle, a city further north in Britain. In Carlisle, he was again linked with the Roman god Mars and with the worship of the emperor. This shows that Ocelus was an important local god who was also connected to the wider Roman world.

What Does His Name Mean?

One of the inscriptions found at Caerwent clearly shows Ocelus's name. It reads:

• DEO MARTI OCELO
• AEL AGUSTINUS
• OP V S L M

This means:

• To the God Mars Ocelus
• Ael(ius) Agustinus
• Op(tio) Paid His Vow

The last line, "Op V S L M," is a short way of saying "Votum Soluit Libens Merito," which means "He willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow." This shows that someone named Aelius Agustinus made a promise to Ocelus and then kept it.

Ocelus and Other Gods

Ocelus was often connected with the Roman god Mars. In Celtic beliefs, Mars was not just a god of war, but also a protector. This suggests Ocelus was seen as a guardian or protector god.

At Caerwent, Ocelus was also linked to two other gods:

• Lenus: This was a god from a group of people called the Treveri, who lived in what is now Germany and Luxembourg. Lenus was known as a healing god.
• Vellaunus: This god was worshipped by the Allobroges, a Celtic tribe who lived in Gaul (modern-day France).

These connections show how different gods and beliefs mixed together in Roman Britain.