Today I visited the wonderful Hochosterwitz castle (Austria). Behind a man and his dog I noticed a Roman stone inscription that cites the Celtic god of light "Belenus". He was the pre-christian main divinity of the ancient city of Aquileia and the basis of the spring and winter bonfires lit on winter solstice or spring equinoxes to welcome the lengthening of days in a lot of places in Europe. His name is at the basis of the city names of Belfast and Belluno and of the Gaelic may day festival Beltane.
This inscription marks an example of the strong cultural and religious link between the adriatic city of Aquileia, its region (Friuli) and the province of Noricum...a link that continued with the arrival of Christianity.
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