Silvanus Calaedicus

From: Mark DeFillo
Message: 11274
Date: 2001-11-19

Chris Gwinn wrote in regard to Silvanus Calaedicus, a theonym mentioned by
"Cas":

"Not likely, as this is this god doesn't seem to have existed either.
You seem to have conflated Siluanus Callirius and Siluanus Cocidius."


Lesley and Roy A. Adkins, in their "Dictionary of Roman Religion" (which
includes information on deities from all areas under Roman domination,
including Gaul and Britain) give the following

p 36 "CALAEDICUS A Celtic god who was linked with the Roman god Silvanus as
Silvanus Calaedicus"

and p 205 "SILVANUS CALAEDICUS A Celtic god linked with the Roman god
Silvanus. This deity is known from a single inscription on an altar found
near Logrono, Spain. There is some dispute as to whether the name Calaedicus
refers to a separate deity or is just another name of Titullus, the person
who dedicated the altar. However, Calaedicus has been interpreted as meaning
"the god of the rocky refuge who burns." This would be a suitable deity to
be linked with Silvanus, one of whose many functions was the patron of
quarrymen (fire was used to break up rock in the process of quarrying).
Reading: Dorcey 1992 62-63."

The above entry is followed by the entries for the two other Silvani that
Chris mentions.

The bibliographical reference is: Dorcey, P.F. 1992 "The Cult of Silvanus: A
Study in Roman Folk Religion." Leiden, New York and Koln: E.J. Brill.

~Mark






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