Jupiter

Jupiter, also Jove. The chief patriarch of the Roman pantheon, god of sky and thunderbolts, protector of oaths, was widely worshipped in Romano-Celtic religion, often with local epithets. Under the process of interpretatio celtica (see GAUL), the native populations of Roman colonies adapted the imperial god to local religious needs. Not surprisingly, classical commentators described Jupiter as ranking lower in native esteem than Gaulish Mercury, Gaulish Apollo, and Gaulish Mars, Celtic gods given Roman names under interpretatio romana. Evidence from non-Roman sources implies that the Continental Celtic Taranis most resembles Jupiter, as does Bussumarus, although it is not clear that either is identical with ‘Gaulish Jupiter’. About 150 columns were erected to honour Jupiter, from eastern Gaul through the Moselle and Rhine valleys. The upper figure is usually seen trampling a serpent-like anthropomorphic monster. Jupiter's placement here may be to put him as high as possible into the sky, his realm, or to link him with trees. Contemporary commentators give little heed to Sir John Rhŷs's (1886) assertation that Nodons, Conchobar mac Nessa, Conaire Mór, and Cormac mac Airt could be related to Zeus, Jupiter's Greek counterpart.