Belatucadros orBelatucadrus, was adeity worshipped inCeltic northern Britain, particularly inCumberland andWestmorland. In theRoman period he was identified withMars and appears to have been worshipped by lower-ranked Roman soldiers as well as by Britons. In five inscriptions he is calledMars Belatucadrus and the name is frequently translated as "fair shining one" or "fair slayer."[1]
Belatucadros is known from approximately 28 inscriptions in the vicinity ofHadrian's Wall.[2] Dedications to Balatocadrus, Balatucadrus, Balaticaurus, Balatucairus, Baliticaurus, Belatucairus, Belatugagus, Belleticaurus, Blatucadrus and Blatucairus are generally accepted as variants of the most common of these forms: Belatucadrus.[2] Altars dedicated to him were usually small, simple and plain, leading to the suggestion that this god was mainly worshipped by people of low social status. His name never appears with a female consort and there is no certain extant representation of him.
Celtic scholarAnne Ross suggests that his name, and that of a similar local god,Cocidius, may be epithets for a common general type of Celtic horned god. A horned head was found near the shrine of Belatucadros atNetherby, Cumbria but cannot be securely identified with the god.[1]
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