Spirit Keepers

RINGS WERE SECRET MARK OF WAR GOD

10:30 - 22 September 2004

A ring worn by worshippers faithful to an ancient Celtic god during the Roman occupation of Lincolnshire has been found.

The second century finger ring is just the latest of around 20 silver rings found over the past year with the letters TOT inscribed in them.

It is thought that the letters represent the Celtic war god Toutatis and might have been worn to show membership of a tribal cult dedicated to him.

Toutatis is often invoked by characters in the French cartoon series Asterix - where tribesmen battle oppressive Roman forces.

His name translates as 'king of the world', 'king of battle' or 'father of the tribe'.

The rings have been handed into the Portable Antiquities Scheme - a project run by Lincolnshire County Council which records archaeological objects found by members of the public.

Finds officer Adam Daubney (25) said the rings could be significant. "The rings are Roman in design and similar ones have been found right across the Roman empire," he said.

"But rings inscribed with TOT have usually only been found in Lincolnshire - so its influence must have been fairly strong."

Second century Britain was a period governed by the Romans but included numerous tribes across the land.

In Lincolnshire the dominant tribe was Coritani which had centres in Ancaster, Owmby, Horncastle and possibly Spilsby.

Mr Daubney said the rings show the tribe was worshipping Celtic gods. "At the time England was into Roman religion and people would have looked to Roman gods like Minerva," he said.

"But it appears people continued to worship pre-existing religions - you could carry on worshipping your own gods.

"Toutatis is one of the principle Celtic deities linked with Mars and Mercury. These rings indicate there might have been a strong following in Lincolnshire."

Rings have been found throughout the county, including Sleaford and Horncastle.

Mr Daubney said: "This type of finger ring is an early example of its type. It must have been made by a local craftsman producing items to order."

Two similar rings which were unearthed in Lincoln in the 1920s have recently been put up for sale on www.historyforsale.co.uk .

Several websites have been set up which talk about Roman Britain.

Another website, www.roman-britain.org , describes the people of Coritani as mild and agricultural people who were receptive to Roman rule.

Mr Daubney said: "It is quite a strange phenomenon for a certain type of ring to be found in a single area.

"But by discovering the rings and researching them, you can learn about religion."

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