TRIER

GERMANY

In the Romano-Celtic period, Trier boasted the most important cult center related to Mars the healer, here called Lenus-Mars. This Celtic god was worshiped principally by the Treveri tribe, who lived in the Moselle Valley, but he did appear at other places, such as Chedworth in Gloucestershire and Caerwent. He was worshiped in the countryside in the territory of the Treveri and also in their tribal capital.

The sanctuary of Lenus-Mars stood in a small, steep-sided, and wooded valley on the bank of the Moselle, opposite the Roman city of Trier. As with other Romanized religious sites, there was a sanctuary here in the Iron Age. Traces of an earlier sacred enclosure have been found that pre-date the second-century temple. This temple was a massive structure, classical in style, with a large altar and what may have been a theater for sacred drama. There was a spring above the sanctuary, and water from this was brought by an artificial channel to fill a small series of baths. This water had an enduring reputation as healing water.

Inscriptions show that there were important priests at the sanctuary, and pilgrims left many oflFerings there in the hope of being cured. Sometimes Lenus was worshiped under the name lovantucams and was required to give special protection to children, and many of the cult objects at the site show images of children, frequently bringing the god gifts of birds. Images of hooded dwarves also appear, along with figurines of deities other than Lenus.

Perhaps the sacred water had magical healing qualities; perhaps the power of faith was great enough to heal. Either way, some were cured at the Lenus-Mars sanctuary. An inscription thanks the god for curing a terrible illness (see Ancamna; Religion: Ritona, Shrines and Temples).