#nehalennia

[fernthewhimsical]

Wees welkom!

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[call-of-the-seaside]

The Frankish fishermen and tradesmen on the south shore of the English Channel had the duty of ferrying the souls of the dead

[tamfana]

Nehalennia

Nehalennia is a Goddess found almost entirely in Zeeland (Netherlands), but she's got a few altars in Cologne, and even the remains of a temple. She's a goddess of the Sea, Travel, Commerce, and possibly another Psychopomp.

The etymology of her name can be interpreted in a few ways. One article I found states that her name may come from the word 'nehal', which means, 'to help.' Some others state that her name would be separated into 'Halen', 'ne', 'ja' meaning 'she who is near the sea.' Both of these interpretations seem pretty apt!

Nehalennia is invoked almost exclusively in all her altars as a "thank you". There are very few instances where she is asked to protect someone before a journey, only ever as a 'Thank you' after the fact. From what we can tell, its quite possible she was invoked during times of crisis, not before.

In her altars, she's seated in an apse (which dispells the idea that she may be an ancestor, as sitting in the apse is reserved for gods alone), with a bowl of apples, grain, or loaves of bread. Sometimes she's pictured with a dog or wolf with her foot on the bough of a ship, which may lead to her position as a psychopomp. The idea of boating into the afterlife comes admittedly from Greek Mythology, but dogs having a connection to the otherworld and magic are consistent in quite a few European Folk Religions. Her dog may also be there to symbolize her protective affinity and loyalty to her people.

It's been suggested that one of her offering meals may also lend to the idea of her being a psychopomp. The duivekater is a bone-shaped loaf of bread served with nutmeg and spices. Then again, this bone could always be in reference to her dog. It originates in North Holland.

Nehalennia is also pretty cool because she's one of the only Goddesses now with a semi-active cult. It is admittedly very small, but there are a few people in the Netherlands today that worship her. In fact, they have a temple in Coljinsplaat!

The history behind this temple is fascinating for a few reasons, in part because the remains of the original temple (which were taken by the ocean) were revealed in a storm when the water washed away some of the dunes.

[pieniebootekent]

Nehalennia painting as a very late autumn equinox celebration :3

[nehalenniadevout]

I found a nice place to pray on my way home from school.

It's pretty secluded for being just off a path, has a lovely flat rock in the sun to sit on, and has a bunch of flowers to take my pick from.

[nehalennia-of-the-waves]

𓊝 Nehalennia 𓊝

A lesser known Dutch goddess

⚓︎

1. What do we know?

In 1647, votive stones and the remains of a temple to Nehalennia were found in Domburg. In 1970, more votive stones as well as remains of another temple and a statue were found in Colijnsplaat. Of the votive stones, only a few were able to be dated, they come from the years 188-227 CE. With over 200 votive stones total, two temples and more inscriptions than any other Dutch deity, she is the most well documented deity from the Netherlands.

Inscriptions about her were made by merchants and seafarers with Latin, Celtic and Germanic names. As a very local goddess, she was acknowledged by people of any culture that came to the places where she was worshipped. It is unclear whether Nehalennia herself is of Celtic or Germanic origin.

Nehalennia is typically depicted wearing a short shoulder cape, with a basket of apples or bread and often a cornucopia. Marine animals and ships are common, as well as a dog at her side.

2. What does it mean?

• Her name: Since her name could be both Celtic or Germanic, there are different theories about its meaning, but the most common one is "the one by the salt water", translated by Patrizia de Bernardo Stempel

• Her cape: No other deities are depicted with this cape and there isn't a conclusive answer as to what is means. It could be a local way of dress

• Apples, bread and the cornucopia: These are all common symbols of harvest and fertility

• Marine animals and ships: There are clearly symbols of the sea. Together with votive stones from merchants and seafarers, which were offered to Nehalennia for "the good storage of wares" and "the ships", they indicate that she could have been a protector goddess of trade and ships/seafaring

• Her dog: This symbol is regarded as somewhat of a mystery, theorized by some to symbolize the underworld or the sea itself. The best interpretation is likely as a symbol for vigilance and protection

Unfortunately there isn't as much information about Nehalennia as there is about some more well-known deities, such as many Greek deities, so a lot of these meanings are only theories.

3. What exists today?

Nehalennia is the most well-known Dutch goddess, but most Dutch people don't know there are Dutch gods at all.

However, there is a reconstructed temple to her in Colijnsplaat, which was built in 2004. There is another one in the Archeon in Leiden. The two original temples are now underwater.

There is The Oracle of Nehalennia by Bela Sìol, which I have been trying and failing to get my hands on.

In the Netherlands there is a school named after Nehalennia, as well as a garden. There's also a sailor moon character.

4. What do I think?

I wanted to talk a bit about upg and my own personal view of/experience with Nehalennia.

I find Nehalennia to be kind, but firm. She's very loving, but will not hesitate to be honest and even harsh when she needs to be. I also see her as very protective.

She's a goddess of trade, harvest, journeys. Of the sea. She understands change and how difficult and how necessary it can be. She is the one that guides you and protects you when you go through it. That's definitely a way in which she's helped me a lot.

When it comes to veneration, these are some of my methods:

• Prayer. I've written a few prayers to her, but there's one that's stuck which I say every time I pray. I personally use prayer beads as well

• Offerings. I give her apples and various dutch cookies. Salt water on her altar is maybe more of a representation than an offering, but I think she enjoys it either way. I also find that she enjoys when you take the time to make something for her, whether that be prayer beads, dedicated jewelry or a poem

• A spot on my altar. I mostly have blue and green and teal items, some sea shells, prayer beads, offerings. I think just making that space for her is important to me and my connection to her

• Swimming. I don't live near the coast and I'm really not one for indoor swimming pools, so I don't actually swim very much, but when I do, even in a lake, I do feel close to her

I am a practicing witch as well as a pagan, but I don't actually work with Nehalennia is spells very much. She helps sometimes, and helps a lot outside of my witchcraft practice, but it's not a working relationship. It is a give and take, but it's not in the form of trading her assistance with a spell for and offering.

5. That's it!

I hope that was interesting! This is obviously just a starting off point and a little introduction. If you're intrigued, please do your own research! If you speak Dutch, I really recommend goden van eigen bodem, which is a website that has tons of info on Dutch deities and folkloric creatures!

Thank you for reading!

⚓︎ Z ⚓︎

[lesser-sage-of-stars]

[sailorsmoon]

Nehalennia! Release the Prince and Princess!