Viridios facts for kids
Viridios (also called Viridius) was a god worshipped in ancient Roman Britain. We know about him from special stones found in England. These stones have his name carved into them.
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Where Viridios Was Worshipped
Stones dedicated to Viridios have been found in a place called Cavsennae or Cavsennis. Today, this place is known as Ancaster, Lincolnshire, in England. So far, Ancaster is the only place where people have found carvings dedicated to this god. This suggests he might have been a local god for that area.
The Ancaster Stones
People have found two important stones with Viridios's name on them in Ancaster.
The First Stone: Found in 1961
The first stone was found in 1961 while digging a grave in Ancaster. It was a limestone slab that had been reused as a grave cover in medieval times.
The Latin words carved on this stone say:
- DEO VIRIDIO
- TRENICO ARCVM
- FECITDESVODON
This means: For the god Viridius, Trenico made this arch, donated from his own funds. This stone is now kept at The Collection Museum in Lincoln.
The Second Stone: Found in 2001
A second stone was found in 2001 by the TV show Time Team. It was part of an old grave, used as a side slab. This stone was found close to where the first one was discovered.
The carving on this second stone reads:
- DIO VRID
- SANCT
This is believed to mean: To the holy god Viridios.
What Viridios's Name Means
The name Viridios comes from Latin, the language of the Romans. It is likely linked to the Latin word viridis. This word means 'green', 'fresh', or 'strong'.
Because of this, many think Viridios was a local god connected to nature. He might have been a god of growth, freshness, or strength. Some people compare him to the Green Man, a mythical figure often seen in old churches. The Green Man has a human face with leaves growing out of it.
Other Clues About Viridios
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Another interesting carving was found near Ancaster. It's a limestone carving, possibly an altar piece. It shows a naked man holding an axe, standing under an archway.
This carving doesn't have any writing on it. However, because it was found near Ancaster, and the man looks strong and powerful, some people think it might be a picture of Viridios. The features could match the idea of a god who is 'mighty', 'strong', or 'fertile'.
See also
- Green Man
- Viridia gens
