Vacomagi

The Vacomagi were east of the Highlands and north of the Forth.

The Vacomagi were a people of ancient Scotland, known only from a single mention of them by the geographer Claudius Ptolemy (AD c.100–c.170). Their principal places are known from Ptolemy's map c.150 of Albion island of Britannia – from the First Map of Europe.

The Vacomagi were a confederacy of smaller tribes, each one a separate polity with its own hierarchy of leaders. According to the data collected by Ptolemy, the Vacomagi were spread over a wide area between the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth; to the east of the Cairngorms and north of the Clyde–Forth isthmus.

Name

Terminology

..."Warriors from Northern Briton
fought naked and used narrow shields,
a spear and a sword...

— Herodian (c.170–c.240).

The term Vacomagi was used by the Romans to distinguish between those Caledonians whose territory was in the lower plains to the east of the Grampian Mountains, from the Caledonii whose territory was in the Highland glens further west. Ptolemy's map is the only classical source to mention the Vacomagi by name; other classical sources generally used a generic term, for example Britons or Caledonians.

Terminology — from 2nd century AD to 4th century AD:

Modern name	Ptolemy	Other sources	Geographic area
Caledonians	?	Caledonians Britannis ..."Britons" Picti ..."Picts"	North of the Clyde–Forth isthmus.
Caledones	Caledonii	Caledones	Highland glens to the east of Loch Ness and the Great Glen Fault.
Vacomagi	Vacomagi	Caledones	Lower plains to the east of the Grampian Mountains.

Etymology

The name was probably a derisory insult to the enemy of the Roman army:

1. Latin <vaco> ..."lazy, idle".
2. Latin <magi> ...plural of magus.
   1. Latin <magus> ..."sorcerer, trickster, conjurer".

The Picts (descendants of the Vacomagi) are reported to have believed in the magi – people with supernatural powers; for example the magus Broichan, who was alleged to have the ability to influence the weather.

Ptolemy's map

Principal places

Ptolemy's map of the British Isles.

See also: Geography (Ptolemy)

..."below Caledonia are the Vacomagi, among whom are the following settlements:
— Claudius Ptolemy (AD c.100–c.170)

1. Moray Firth
   1. Pinnata Castra
   2. Tuesis
2. Firth of Tay
   1. Tamia
3. Firth of Forth
   1. Bannatia

The principal places of the Vacomagi are known only from Ptolemy's map of Albion island of Britannia – from the First Map of Europe.

The historian Graham Robb has used scaling factors to compensate for the anomaly whereby Scotland appears to tip wildly into the North Sea, in order to determine the possible locations: Robb has calculated that Tamia and Bannatia were further south than previously thought, probably on the Tay and Forth respectively. It might be expected that those settlements were near maritime navigation routes, since most of Ptolemy's data originated from seafarer's travel records.

Place name	Latitude N – S	Longitude E – W	Navigation	Possible location
Pinnata Castra	27°15	59°20	Moray Firth	? Burghead Fort
Tuesis	26°45	59°10	Moray Firth	? Burnfield camp – River Deveron. ? Mouth of the River Spey.
Tamia	25°00	59°20	Firth of Tay	? Perth – River Tay ? Bertha Roman fort – River Almond.
Bannatia	24°00	59°30	Firth of Forth	? Camelon Roman fort – River Carron. ? Bannock Burn – Forth confluence.

Tuesis

See also: Greta Bridge § Tutta Beck

It has in the past been conjectured that Tuesis was the Romano-British name for the River Spey, however historian Graham Robb has calculated that Tuesis was further east, possibly the Burnfield camp on the River Deveron.

Etymology

The name element esis (or isis) may derive from eíschusis (*eis-sis) translated from Ptolemy’s ancient Greek text.

The name Tuesis (or Toúesis) is possibly a conflation of the Gaulish deities Toutatis and Esus:

1. Toú – Toutatis – God of the tribe.
2. esis – Esus – God of the river.

Toutatis and Esus were famously associated with the deity Taranis in the poem Pharsalia by the Roman poet Lucan.

Hadrian's Wall

The cult of Esus was possibly introduced into North Britain by the movement of legions and auxiliaries from Roman Gaul (France) and Hispania Tarraconensis (Spain). A bronze bowl (known as the Amiens Skillet) found at Amiens, France, has the inscription:

MAIS ABALLAVA VXELODVNVM CAMBOG...S BANNA ESICA

The inscription is a list of the Roman fort's on Hadrian's Wall. The last fort on the list is Æsica (Great Chesters); the name derives from Esus (or Æsus).

A pottery mould that is believed to depict the Gaulish deity Taranis was found at the Coria Roman fort near Hexham. Similar moulds were used to create relief decoration for fine pottery.

Tamia

The historian Graham Robb has calculated that Tamia was possibly near the city of Perth. It has been conjectured that the Bertha Roman fort near the River Almond – Tay confluence was originally called Tamia, derived from a native name for the River Tay.

Inchtuthil and Carpow

Inchtuthil and Carpow were both Roman legionary fortresses – based on the River Tay – the only legionary fortresses north of Hadrian's Wall, and therefore of strategic importance. However Inchtuthil was only occupied for a short while, and Carpow was occupied much later, from the late second century AD until the early third century AD. It is not known if there was a base at Carpow when data was collected for Ptolemy's map.

Etymology

The name element Tam is a common river name, there are many examples in England; a famous example is the River Thame, one of the major tributaries of the River Thames (Roman: Tamesis – Tam..esis).

It has been conjectured that the name element Tam may derive from a Sanskrit word meaning "dark water".

Another possibility is that Tam is the nickname of a Celtic god, goddess or deity. It is known that the Celts worshipped rivers, and gave votive offerings.

In addition to the Celtic Britons, there was also a migration of Celts from Roman Gaul (France) and Hispania (Spain), during the Roman occupation, who brought with them their own pantheon of deities with them.

River Tay

The Legio XX Valeria Victrix built and occupied the legionary fortress at Inchtuthil on the River Tay 82–86 AD. A Roman altar found in Chester may provide evidence that the Legio XX worshipped the Gaulish deity Taranis, but using the variant name Tanarus.

The Romano-British name for the Tay – Taus – may derive from Tanarus (Ta---us) – god of thunder.

God of thunder

Taranis (or Tanarus) with wheel and thunderbolt, Le Chatelet, Gourzon, Haute-Marne, France

The name variant Tanarus (for the Gaulish deity Taranis) shows an interesting reversal of the letters 'R' and 'N' – a reconstruction that is possibly mirrored in several river names:

Entity	Name	P-Celtic derivation
Taranis – god of thunder.	Taranis Tanarus	Brittonic taran ..."thunder"
River Tanaro, north-west Italy.	Tanaro Tanarus	Brittonic taran ..."thunder"
Water of Tanar, north-east Scotland.	Tanar	Brittonic taran ..."thunder"
River Tamar, south-west England.	Tamar	Gaulish taram ..."thunder".

The name element Tam is possibly a contraction of Gaulish taram ("thunder").

There is a natural association between thunder – rain – rivers.

Votive offerings

Watery places – including rivers, lakes and wetlands – had a special significance for Celtic people in Western Europe during the Iron Age. Many precious objects, found in watery places, are believed to have been votive offerings – to gods and goddesses.

Votive offerings may have been symbolic; possibly a shout for help:

1. A shield may have been a request for help to defend the tribe from an aggressor.
2. A cauldron may have been a request for help to prevent a famine.

The Battersea Shield is possibly one of the most important examples of Iron Age art and craftsmanship ever found in Britain. It was found at an ancient crossing point of the Thames, and is believed to have been a votive offering.

The Gundestrup cauldron, found in Denmark, is another outstanding example of Iron Age art and craftsmanship.

Interior plate C
The bust of a bearded man, possibly Taranis, holding a broken wheel.

The internal plates depict imagery possibly associated with gods and deities:

1. Interior plate A – The horned god Cernunnos.
2. Interior plate C – The Gaulish deity Taranis – god of thunder.

The horned god Cernunnos is known primarily from Pillar of the Boatmen, which also includes a dedication to the Gaulish deity Esus – god of the river. Taranis and Esus were famously associated with the deity Toutatis in the poem Pharsalia by the Roman poet Lucan.

Bannatia

Graham Robb has calculated that Bannatia might have been Camelon Roman fort at Falkirk, south of the River Carron. The name Bannatia may derive from Welsh (Welsh-Brittonic) <bannau> ..."peaks". This might relate to the breathtaking views of the Munro peaks, to the north of Stirling, for example Stùc a' Chroin and Ben Vorlich. The etymology suggests that Bannatia was between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay, and validates Graham Robb's methodology for re-evaluating Ptolemy's co-ordinates.

The area around Stirling was historically known as Manau (or Manaw Gododdin). This area has always been strategically important because of its location just north of the Clyde–Forth isthmus.

History

Mons Graupius

Main article: Battle of Mons Graupius

The Battle of Mons Graupius took place in 83 or 84 AD between the Roman army and a coalition of Vacomagi, Caledonii and other native tribes. The combined might of the Roman army resulted in a decisive victory for the Roman general Agricola.

The Mither Tap of Bennachie is possibly ? Mons Graupius.

The location of the battle ("Graupius mountain") has never been convincingly identified, however most historians agree that it was somewhere east of the Highlands and north of the Forth (in other words – Vacomagi territory – or thereabouts). Some historians believe that Bennachie, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, might have been a possible location.

The Roman army

The Roman army consisted of:

Roman legion	Infantry	Cavalry	Total
IX Hispana XX Valeria Victrix	?	?	11,000
Auxiliaries	8,000	3,000	11,000
			22,000

The Caledonians

During the previous years the Roman advance had destroyed farms and crops; this had probably been worse for the Vacomagi, whose territory was in the lower plains to the east – than for the Caledonii, whose territory in the Highland glens was more protected.

Tribe	Territory	Total
Vacomagi	East of the Highlands North of the Forth	?
Caledonii	Highland glens	?
Other tribes	Coastal regions	?
		30,000

..."More than 30,000 armed men were now to be seen,
and still there were pressing in all the youth of the country,
with all whose old age was yet hale and vigorous,
men renowned in war and bearing each decorations of his own.
— Tacitus (AD c.56–c.120)

Translated from the original Latin:
triginta milia ...30,000
armatorum ..."armed men"
aspiciebantur..."to be seen"

Tacitus

The Roman historian Tacitus gave us this account:

..."Having sent on a fleet, which by its ravages at various points might cause a vague and wide-spread alarm, he advanced with a lightly equipped force, including in its ranks some Britons of remarkable bravery, whose fidelity had been tried through years of peace, as far as Mons Graupius, which the enemy had already occupied.
..."For the Britons, indeed, in no way cowed by the result of the late engagement, had made up their minds to be either avenged or enslaved, and convinced at length that a common danger must be averted by union, had, by embassies and treaties, summoned forth the whole strength of all their states.
..."More than 30,000 armed men...
..."Meanwhile, among the many leaders, one superior to the rest in valour and in birth, Calgacus by name, is said to have thus harangued the multitude gathered around him and clamouring for battle...
— Tacitus (AD c.56–c.120)

Legio XX Valeria Victrix

Main article: Legio XX Valeria Victrix

The Legio XX Valeria Victrix from Clunia in Hispania Tarraconensis (Spain) took part in the Battle of Mons Graupius AD c.83 and built and occupied the castra at Inchtuthil on the River Tay AD 82–86. They evacuated Inchtuthill c.87 and arrived at Deva Victrix (Chester) AD 88 where they were based for another two centuries.

Chronology:

Date	Event
AD 78–84	Legio XX took part in Agricola's campaigns in northern Britannia.
AD 82–83	Legio XX built the base at Inchtuthill.
AD c.83	Legio XX took part in the Battle of Mons Graupius.
AD 84–86	Legio XX occupied the base at Inchtuthill.
AD 86-87	Legio XX evacuated Inchtuthill.
AD 88	Legio XX occupied Deva Victrix (Chester) for another two centuries.
AD 154	Altar dedicated to Jupiter—Tanarus.
AD 1653	Altar found in Chester.
AD 1675	Altar given to Oxford University.
AD 2024	Altar is part of the Arundel Marbles collection.

Glen Tanar

A Roman altar found in Chester, AD 1653, may provide evidence that the Legio XX worshipped the Gaulish deity Taranis, but using the variant name Tanarus. There is a natural association between Tanarus – God of thunder – rain and rivers.

Mount Keen – from Glen Esk.
(Scottish Gaelic: Monadh Caoin)

It is possible that the Water of Tanar – in Glen Tanar – derives its name from the Gaulish deity Tanarus. At the entrance to Glen Tanar is the Bridge o' Ess, suggesting that this part of the river was previously known as the Ess (or Esk, a common river name) possibly derived from the Gaulish deity Esus – God of the river. The Tanar rises on the north side of Mount Keen, the most easterly of the Scottish Munro's.

Mount Keen is in a geographic area known as The Mounth, an expanse of high plateau that extends west to east from the Cairngorms across to the North Sea coast. It forms a physical barrier to north-south travel – historians sometimes refer to The Mounth in the context of it being a geo-political border that historically separated the north and south of Pictland.

Mount Keen is also part of a range of hills that defined the west to east boundary between the former regions of Grampian and Tayside.

The Mounth Road is a high level track that connects Glen Esk (south of the Mounth) with Aboyne on the River Dee (north of the Mounth). The track traverses the west flank of Mount Keen before descending down into Glen Tanar. Historically the Mounth Road connected the north and south of Pictland.

Monadh Caoin

It is possible that the people who gave Mount Keen its Scottish Gaelic name ("Monadh Caoin") had a good understanding of its human history. Important historic events were rarely recorded in written form but were regaled over and over in the form of stories or poems passed down from generation to generation.

See also Wiktionary:

1. Scottish Gaelic <monadh> ...Possibly borrowed from Pictish
   1. "moor, heath"
   2. "mountain, hill"
   3. "hill-pasture"
2. Scottish Gaelic <caoin>
   1. "mourn, lament, grieve"
   2. "cry, weep"

2nd century

The Vacomagi were a confederacy of smaller tribes, each one a separate polity with its own hierarchy of leaders. According to the data collected by Ptolemy, the Vacomagi were spread out over a wide area between the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth; to the east of the Cairngorms and north of the Clyde–Forth isthmus. This area was also occupied by neighbouring tribes:

1. Taexali (north-east)
2. Venicones (south-east)
3. Caledones (west)

They were probably hunter-gatherer's who also kept animals and grew crops – it was reported that during the Roman advance, prior to the Battle of Mons Graupius, there had been destruction to farm land. They probably lived in traditional roundhouse dwellings.

3rd century

By the late 2nd century – early 3rd century, only two tribes are known (from classical sources) to have occupied the original territory of the Vacomagi:

1. Caledones
2. Maeatae (south)

It has been conjectured that the Vacomagi and other tribes realigned their allegiances towards two main polities, those of the Caledones and Maeatae, in order to better coordinate their defence against the Romans.

7th century

It was only by about the late 7th century that the descendants of the Vacomagi and Caledones became the contiguous group that we now know as the Picts, with a unique language, culture and identity, and ruled by a single Pictish king. The term Picti (first recorded AD c.297) was used in classical sources to distinguish between those Celtic Tribes in Northern Britain who were Romanised – from those who were outside the Roman rule of law.

Archaeology

Roman altar dedicated to Jupiter Tanarus

I · O · M · TANARO
T · ELVPIVS · GALER
PRAESENS · GVNTA
PRI · LEG · XX V V
COMMODO · ET
LATERANO
COS ·
V · S · L · M
— Inscription from altar

..."jovi Optimo Maximo Tanaro
T Elypius Galerius
præfens Gumia
Primcipibus Legionis Vicefimæ Veteramus
votum folvit libens merito B...
— Gerard Langbaine (1608–1658)

A red sandstone altar dedicated to Jupiter—Tanarus by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix was found in Foregate Street, Chester, 1653 AD.

The inscription on the altar was in poor condition when it was found in 1653 and deteriorated further while being used as a garden feature before it was given to Oxford University in 1675.

To Jupiter Tanarus, Best and Greatest,
Lucius Elufrius Praesens of the Galerian voting-tribe,
from Clunia,
princeps of the Twentieth Legion Valeria Victrix,
willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow
in the consulship of Commodus and Lateranus.

The Twentieth Legion Valeria Victrix were based at Deva Victrix, from 88 AD, following their evacuation from Inchtuthill castra on the River Tay near Dunkeld.

Jupiter—Tanarus

Tanarus is believed to be a variant name for the Gaulish deity Taranis; one of the triad of Gaulish deities mentioned in the poem Pharsalia by the Roman poet Lucan. Another example of a dedication on stone to Tanarus, by a Gaul named Vebroumarus, was found at Orgon, Bouches du Rhone, France.

Jupiter—Tanarus is a conflation of:

1. Roman god Jupiter – King of the gods, god of storms, lightning, sky.
2. Gaulish deity Taranis – God of thunder.

See also

• Insular Celts
  • Celtic Britons
  • Picts
  • Gaels
• List of ancient Celtic peoples and tribes
  • Picts / Caledonians

Sources

• de la Bédoyère, Guy (2013). Roman Britain: A New History. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500291146.

• Coleman, Keith (2022). Áedán of the Gaels: King of the Scots. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1526794901.

• Foster, Sally M. (2014). Picts, Gaels and Scots: Early Historic Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 978-1780271910.

• Green, Miranda J (1992). Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500279755.

• Green, Miranda J (1982), "Tanarus, Taranis and the Chester altar", Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society 65, 65: 37–44, doi:10.5284/1070267

• James, Alan G. (2019). "The Brittonic Language in the Old North, A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence, Volume 2" (PDF). Scottish Place-Name Society. Retrieved 3 January 2024.

• Moffat, Alistair (2019). To the Island of Tides; A Journey to Lindisfarne. Canongate Books. ISBN 978-1786896346.

• Moffat, Alistair (2017). Scotland, A History from Earliest Times. Birlinn. ISBN 978-1780274386.

• Noble, Gordon; Evans, Nicholas (2022). The Picts: Scourge of Rome, Rulers of the North. Birlinn. ISBN 978-1780277783.

• Oliver, Neil (2020). Wisdom of the Ancients: Life lessons from our distant past. Bantam Press. ISBN 978-1787633094.

• Oliver, Neil (2012). A History of Ancient Britain. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0753828861.

• Rabbitts, Paul; Rabbitts, David (2022). Cotherstone: A Village in Teesdale. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1398113831.

• Reaney, P. H. (1969). The Origin of English Place Names. Routledge & Kegan Paul.

• Robb, Graham (2018). The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England. Picador (imprint). ISBN 978-1509804689.

• Roberts, Alice (2015). The Celts: Search for a Civilisation. Heron Books. ISBN 978-1784293321.

• Rodgers, Nigel (2017). Ancient Rome: An Illustrated History. Lorenz Books. ISBN 978-0754834205.

• Strang, Alastair (1997). "Explaining Ptolemy's Roman Britain". Britannia. 28: 1–30. doi:10.2307/526763. JSTOR 526763. S2CID 161532105.

External links

• Ptolemy (150), Thayer, Bill (ed.), Geographia, Book 2, Chapter 2: Albion island of Britannia, LacusCurtius website at the University of Chicago (published 2008), retrieved 26 April 2008