View source for Intarabus

[[File:Intarabus Arlon musée836.jpg|right|thumb|Bronze statuette of Intarabus from Foy-Noville, now at the Musée archéologique d'[[Arlon]].]]
'''Intarabus''' was a [[Gallo-Roman religion|Gaulish god]] in the pantheon of the [[Treveri]] and some neighbouring peoples. His name is known from nine inscriptions from a relatively compact area in what are now [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], western [[Germany]] and eastern [[France]].<ref name="Jufer">Nicole Jufer & Thierry Luginbühl (2001). ''Les dieux gaulois : répertoire des noms de divinités celtiques connus par l'épigraphie, les textes antiques et la toponymie.'' Paris: Editions Errance. {{ISBN|2-87772-200-7}}. {{in lang|fr}}</ref> He may have been the [[tutelary deity]] of one of the three ''[[pagus|pagi]]'' (subdivisions) of the Treveri.<ref>Ton Derks (1998). ''Gods, Temples and Ritual Practices: The Transformation of Religious Ideas and Values in Roman Gaul.'' Amsterdam University Press. {{ISBN|978-90-5356-254-3}}. p.199.</ref> In most cases, Intarabus is invoked alone – without any [[interpretatio Romana|synthesis to a Roman deity]], and without accompanying female deities. However, one inscription invokes him as ''[[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] Intarabus,'' noting that a ''[[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#fanum|fanum]]'' and ''[[wikt:simulacrum|simulacrum]]'' of this god had been restored at [[Trier]].<ref>{{CIL|13|03653}}</ref><ref>Joan Carbonell Manils and H. Gimeno Pascual. "[http://ddd.uab.cat/pub/faventia/02107570v27n2p7.pdf Un ''fanum'' in ''Turgalium'']". p.15. In ''Faventia'' 27/2, 2005. {{in lang|es}}</ref> Meanwhile, another inscription from [[:fr:Mackwiller|Mackwiller]] in [[Alsace]] gives Intarabus the epithet ''Narius''.<ref>{{AE|1957|0155b}}</ref> An inscription at [[:de:Ernzen|Ernzen]] in Germany has his name as ''[In]tarabus'',<ref>{{AE|1978|0513}}</ref> while another from [[:fr:Noville|Foy-Noville]] (now within the town of [[Bastogne]] in Belgium), invokes ''Entarabus'' in conjunction with the ''[[Genius]] Ollodagus''.<ref>{{CIL|13|03632}}</ref> 

A bronze statuette from the Foy-Noville site, identified on the base as ''Deo Intarabo'' (in the [[dative]] [[Case (grammar)|case]]), depicts the god as a beardless, long-haired man in a tunic, draped with a wolf skin.<ref>David Colling (2011), La statuette d'Intarabus de Foy-Noville, ''Annales de l'Institut Archéologique du Luxembourg'', '''145''', p. 83-89, ISSN 0776-1244</ref> His raised right hand would presumably have held a spear or some other implement, while his left hand, extended at waist length, is now missing.<ref name="MNHA"/><ref>Jean-Luc Bodeux. « [http://www.lesoir.be/regions/namur_luxembourg/2006/08/24/article_hermes_464365.shtml Fabuleux bestiaire d'Ardenne]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ». ''[[Le Soir]],'' 23 August 2006. {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The theatre at [[Echternach]] appears to have been dedicated to Intarabus,<ref>{{CIL|13|3653|R=}}</ref><ref>Frank Sear (2006). ''Roman Theatres: An Architectural Survey.'' Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-814469-4}}. p.210.</ref> as was an ''[[aedicula]]'' at Ernzen.<ref>[http://www.irrel.de/tourismus/sehenswert/s_weihe.htm Weihedenkmal des Gottes Intarabus in Ernzen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830075012/http://www.irrel.de/tourismus/sehenswert/s_weihe.htm |date=2007-08-30 }} and [http://bwpc08.fh-trier.de:8080/kuDb/servlet/kategorieObj?aktSchluessel=573 Kulturgüter in der Region Trier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222705/http://bwpc08.fh-trier.de:8080/kuDb/servlet/kategorieObj?aktSchluessel=573 |date=2007-09-26 }}, both concerning reconstructed monuments to Intarabus at Ernzen (with photographs). {{in lang|de}}</ref> A silver ring engraved simply with the name ''Intarabo'' (again, in the dative case) was found at [[Dalheim]].<ref name="MNHA">Drawing of the ring and descriptions as given on a wall plaque at the Musée national d'histoire et d'art, [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]].</ref> 

According to Helmut Birkhan, the site at [[:fr:Mackwiller|Mackwiller]] reveals a number of evolutions in the local cult. Starting in the 1st century CE, there was a sanctuary for Narius Intarabus related to worship at a local spring. In the 2nd century CE, a [[mithraeum]] was built there, and inscriptions testify to the common worship of [[Mithras]] and Narius Intarabus. In the second half of the 3rd century, the mithraeum was replaced with a traditional Gaulish-style temple, which now enclosed the sacred spring. From this it can be seen that the Mithraic cult was abandoned in favour of the older Celtic local deities.<ref>Helmut Birkhan: ''Kelten. Versuch einer Gesamtdarstellung ihrer Kultur.'' p.&nbsp;280.</ref>

The name ‘Intarabus’ has been characterized as “etymologically obscure”;<ref>[[Bernhard Maier (religious studies professor)|Bernhard Maier]] (1998). ''Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture.'' Boydell & Brewer. {{ISBN|978-0-85115-660-6}}. p.158.</ref> [[Xavier Delamarre]], however, takes the name to mean ''entar-abus'' "Entre-Rivières" (between rivers).<ref>Xavier Delamarre (2003). ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise : Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental,'' 2<sup>e</sup> édition. Éditions Errance. {{ISBN|2-87772-237-6}}. pp.29, 162. {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}

[[Category:Gaulish gods]]
[[Category:Treveri]]