Nehalennia
NEHALENNIA
TEMPLE IN COLIJNSPLAAT
HOME
THE TEMPLE
TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION
ABOUT NEHALENNIA
TEMPLE VISIT
About Nehalennia
No reliable information is available about the goddess Nehalennia, except for what the inscriptions on the found stones state. Almost all of these altars have been found at Colijnsplaat (since 1970) and in a much smaller number at Domburg (1647). A few presumably strays have also been found in Cologne and Tongeren. No other written sources are known about the goddess. Nevertheless, on the basis of the material found, archaeologists and historians have now been able to design a rich picture of Nehalennia against the background of general Roman history.
Fertility Goddess
Nehalennia has been found almost exclusively in the area of present-day Zeeland. So it seems to be a regional deity, but one with an emanation over part of the Roman world empire. Merchants along rivers and seacoasts of Northwest Europe in particular knew and revered Nehalennia. Her specialties were shipping, trade and probably fertility. Fertility is an area of interest often associated with female deities. It is reasonable to assume that Nehalennia was already worshiped in these parts prior to the arrival of the Romans since 58 BC. She probably had more of a fertility goddess function then and she is comparable to the mother goddesses known in prehistoric times.
Image Nehalennia altar - photo: RMO
Image Nehalennia image - photo: RMO
Image Nehalennia altar - photo: RMO
Photos: National Museum of Antiquities – Leiden
The Nehalennia cult
Since the Celtic tribe of the Menapii was native here, Nehalennia's roots may be Celtic, but a Germanic origin is also conceivable. The Romans included Nehalennia in their own extensive world of gods, as was customary in their policy of conquest.
The Nehalennia cult was able to grow in size during the later Roman occupation due to the peace and prosperity that accompanied it: the Pax Romana. There were trade contacts between Zeeland settlements and regions along the Rhine, Moselle, Meuse, Scheldt and the coasts along the Channel. Nehalennia owes her sanctuaries at Walachria (Domburg) and Ganuenta (Colijnsplaat) to this. Traders moored at these harbor towns for an overseas trip to Great Britain or France. At the temple there they implored the protection of the goddess with the vow of a gratitude offering upon safe return with a handsome profit. We know of the votive stones that resulted from this, but it is likely that simpler offerings were also common, such as figurines and fruit often depicted with Nehalennia.
Zeeland girl
Nehalennia is usually depicted as a young woman without a head covering, but with a pelerine, a characteristic shoulder cape, that is unique to her. It is therefore sometimes joked that this must be the original costume of the Zeeland girl. Attributes of Nehalennia are: fruit (bowl), cornucopia, ship's prow and dog. Usually she was depicted sitting under a shell-shaped canopy. Only three votive stones have been found at Colijnsplaat, which can be dated precisely by their inscription: they were sacrificed between 188 and 227. The temple in Ganuenta is believed to have been in use between about 150 and 250. In the third century the Romans disappear from the Netherlands and the temple will gradually be abandoned and will have fallen into disuse.
Present Worship
The scientific knowledge about Nehalennia and also the reconstruction of the sanctuary at Colijnsplaat with its imaginative shape and location on the banks of the Oosterschelde inspire people who appreciate the spiritual side of the historical Nehalennia religion. The temple is regularly used for celebrations of what is called modern paganism. This is accompanied by meditation, dance, music, ritual, attributes. The temple may be used for this purpose, provided that prior permission is requested from the owner (Nehalennia Foundation), for which a script must be submitted. Financial support to the Nehalennia Foundation for the maintenance and preservation of the monument in exchange for free use is of course appreciated (NL33 RABO 0371 4209 97 in the name of the Nehalennia Foundation). follow theFacebook page of the Nehalennia Temple for current announcements of events.
Want to read more about Nehalennia? Go to www.zeeuwseankers.nl/verhalen/nehalennia-1
January 19th, 2023
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NEHALENNIA
TEMPLE IN COLIJNSPLAAT
HOME
THE TEMPLE
TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION
ABOUT NEHALENNIA
TEMPLE VISIT
About Nehalennia
No reliable information is available about the goddess Nehalennia, except for what the inscriptions on the found stones state. Almost all of these altars have been found at Colijnsplaat (since 1970) and in a much smaller number at Domburg (1647). A few presumably strays have also been found in Cologne and Tongeren. No other written sources are known about the goddess. Nevertheless, on the basis of the material found, archaeologists and historians have now been able to design a rich picture of Nehalennia against the background of general Roman history.
Fertility Goddess
Nehalennia has been found almost exclusively in the area of present-day Zeeland. So it seems to be a regional deity, but one with an emanation over part of the Roman world empire. Merchants along rivers and seacoasts of Northwest Europe in particular knew and revered Nehalennia. Her specialties were shipping, trade and probably fertility. Fertility is an area of interest often associated with female deities. It is reasonable to assume that Nehalennia was already worshiped in these parts prior to the arrival of the Romans since 58 BC. She probably had more of a fertility goddess function then and she is comparable to the mother goddesses known in prehistoric times.
Image Nehalennia altar - photo: RMO
Image Nehalennia image - photo: RMO
Image Nehalennia altar - photo: RMO
Photos: National Museum of Antiquities – Leiden
The Nehalennia cult
Since the Celtic tribe of the Menapii was native here, Nehalennia's roots may be Celtic, but a Germanic origin is also conceivable. The Romans included Nehalennia in their own extensive world of gods, as was customary in their policy of conquest.
The Nehalennia cult was able to grow in size during the later Roman occupation due to the peace and prosperity that accompanied it: the Pax Romana. There were trade contacts between Zeeland settlements and regions along the Rhine, Moselle, Meuse, Scheldt and the coasts along the Channel. Nehalennia owes her sanctuaries at Walachria (Domburg) and Ganuenta (Colijnsplaat) to this. Traders moored at these harbor towns for an overseas trip to Great Britain or France. At the temple there they implored the protection of the goddess with the vow of a gratitude offering upon safe return with a handsome profit. We know of the votive stones that resulted from this, but it is likely that simpler offerings were also common, such as figurines and fruit often depicted with Nehalennia.
Zeeland girl
Nehalennia is usually depicted as a young woman without a head covering, but with a pelerine, a characteristic shoulder cape, that is unique to her. It is therefore sometimes joked that this must be the original costume of the Zeeland girl. Attributes of Nehalennia are: fruit (bowl), cornucopia, ship's prow and dog. Usually she was depicted sitting under a shell-shaped canopy. Only three votive stones have been found at Colijnsplaat, which can be dated precisely by their inscription: they were sacrificed between 188 and 227. The temple in Ganuenta is believed to have been in use between about 150 and 250. In the third century the Romans disappear from the Netherlands and the temple will gradually be abandoned and will have fallen into disuse.
Present Worship
The scientific knowledge about Nehalennia and also the reconstruction of the sanctuary at Colijnsplaat with its imaginative shape and location on the banks of the Oosterschelde inspire people who appreciate the spiritual side of the historical Nehalennia religion. The temple is regularly used for celebrations of what is called modern paganism. This is accompanied by meditation, dance, music, ritual, attributes. The temple may be used for this purpose, provided that prior permission is requested from the owner (Nehalennia Foundation), for which a script must be submitted. Financial support to the Nehalennia Foundation for the maintenance and preservation of the monument in exchange for free use is of course appreciated (NL33 RABO 0371 4209 97 in the name of the Nehalennia Foundation). follow theFacebook page of the Nehalennia Temple for current announcements of events.
Want to read more about Nehalennia? Go to www.zeeuwseankers.nl/verhalen/nehalennia-1