Map showing the distribution of inscriptions to Mercury Visucius (including a number of variants of this name).

Visucius was a Gallo-Roman god, usually identified with Mercury. He was worshipped primarily in the east of Gaul, around Trier and on the Rhine; his name is recorded on about ten dedicatory inscriptions. One such inscription has also been found in Bordeaux. Visucius is, along with Gebrinius and Cissonius, among the most common indigenous epithets of the Gaulish Mercury.^[1]

The name has sometimes been interpreted as meaning "of the ravens"^[2] or "knowledgeable";^[3] cf. the Proto-Celtic roots *weiko- 'raven' and *witsu- 'knowing'.^[4]

The variant or mistaken spelling Visuclus is also attested.^[5]

In one inscription, Visucius has the epithet Solitumarus; the same inscription also honours Jupiter Optimus Maximus and Apollo.^[5]

Another inscription is co-dedicated to Sancta Visucia, as well as to Mercurius Visucius.^[6] This goddess, apparently a companion or analogue of Visucius, has sometimes been likened to Rosmerta or Maia, who also accompany Mercury on many Gaulish dedications.

One inscription dedicated to Visugius has also been found at Agoncillo in Spain; this may perhaps refer to the same deity.^[5]

References