View source for Veteris

{{See Wiktionary}}
{{distinguish|text=the northern British Roman fort at [[Verteris]]}}
'''Veteris''' (commonly spelled ''Vitiris, Vheteris, Huetiris'', and ''Hueteris'') was a [[Celtic polytheism|Celtic god]] attested from many inscriptions in [[Roman Britain]]. The dedicants were usually private individuals and were exclusively male. During the 3rd Century AD the cult was particularly popular among the ranks of the [[Roman army]].

Veteris' name was never linked with that of any of the Classical gods, but he was invoked with another local god, [[Mogons]], at [[Castra Exploratorum|Netherby]].

==Centres of worship==
Veteris was worshipped in [[Roman Britain]] and altar-stones raised to him have been recovered in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>[http://www.roman-britain.org/rbgods.htm The Gods of Roman Britain] from roman-britain.org</ref> such as those excavated at:
*Netherby (971 [Mogont Vitire], 973 [Huetiri])
*Carrawburgh (1548 [Veteri], 1549 [Huiteribus])
*[[Vercovicium|Housesteads]] (1602 [Hueteri], 1603 [Huitri], 1604-7 [Veteribus])
*[[Hadrian's Wall]] (2068 [Veteri], 2096 [Huiteribus])
*[[Catterick, North Yorkshire|Catterick]] (727)
*[[Chester-le-Street]] (1046 [Vitiri], 1047 [Vitiribus], 1048 [Vitbus])
*[[South Shields]] (1070c [Ansu Vitiri])
*[[Lanchester, County Durham|Lanchester]] (1087, 1088)
*[[Ebchester]] (1103 & 1104 [Vitiri])
*[[Coria (Corbridge)|Corbridge]] (1139 [Veteri], 1140 [Vitiri], 1141 [Vit])
*[[Benwell]] (1335 [Vetri], 1336 [Vitirbus])
*[[Cilurnum|Chesters]] (1455 [Vitiri], 1456 [Veteribus], 1457 [Vitirbus], 1458 [Votris?])
*[[Great Chesters]] (1728 [Vetiri], 1729 & 1730 [Veteribus])
*[[Vindolanda|Chesterholm]] (1697 [Veteri], 1698 [Veteri], 1699 [Veteribus], 1722e & 1722f [Veteribus])
*[[Magnis (Carvoran)|Carvoran]] (1793-5 [Veteri], 1796 [Vetiri], 1797 [Vetiriu], 1798 [Viterino], 1799-1801 [Vitiri], 1802/3 [Veteribus], 1804 [Viteribus], 1805 [Vitiribus])

Forty altars to this god are recorded altogether, some alluding to Veteris as a single entity, others to a multiple version, perhaps a triad. Little is known about the specific function or character of the god. Occasionally, there is iconography associated with Veteris: for example, an altar from [[Carvoran]] is decorated with images of a boar and snake, the boar indicative of hunting or war and the snake healing or death.

==Sources==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}

*[[British Museum]], [[London]], [[England]].
*Lancaster museum, [[Lancaster, England|Lancaster]], [[England]].
*Newcastle Museum of Antiquities, [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[England]].
*Penrith Museum, [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]], [[England]].
*Verovicium Roman Museum, Housesteads Fort, [[Northumberland]], [[England]].
*[[York Castle]] Museum, [[York]], [[England]].
*Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames and Hudson Ltd, 1997
{{refend}}

{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}

[[Category:Gods of the ancient Britons]]


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