Beten
The three Beten (or Bethen, Beden) are a Triple Goddess from Celtic Mythology. The triple goddess takes many forms, not all of which are associated with the Beten. Representations of three maidens with the same or derivative names as the Beten in post-classical sculpture and painting testify firmly to their existence as earlier, classical figures of belief. Every tripartite representation or trilogy of figures is not to be identified with the Beten, however.
The two main theories about the origin of the Beten hypothesize that they descended from a female triple deity in prehistoric Europe, which is described in the work of the archaeologist and theorist Marija Gimbutas (See under Triple Goddess). In that theory the multiplication of persons is believed to symbolize the intense powers of the goddess.
A second theory proposes that they represent the celestial qualities of the Mother Goddess, standing for a trilogy of earth, sun, moon. This particular trilogy seems local to the Rhine-Danube drainage system.
Variants of the name
The name "Beten" appears in the endings of the names of the three goddesses, of which some spelling variants are:
- Ambet(h), Embet(h), Einbet(h), Ainbeth, Ainpeta, Einbede, Aubet, etc.
- Borbet(h), Worbeth, Wolbeth, Warbede, Gwerbeth, etc.
- Wilbet(h), Willebede, Vilbeth, Fürbeth, Firpet, Cubet, etc.
Description
Sometime the Beten are considered as Fates and would therefore be a parallel in Celtic mythology to the Norns of Germanic mythology. It is more likely, however, that the triple goddess came from a more gynocentric religion. They would in that case be forms of the Celtic Matrones.
Ambet is frequently depicted as a young woman and mother goddess, Borbet as a solar deity and Wilbet as a lunar deity. It is possible that three contiguous days of the week were sacred to them, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The association of Sunday and Monday with sun and moon is undoubted. An association between Saturday and Ambet is more speculative.
Since the goddess is inherited from the prehistoric and pre-Indo-European cultures of ancient Europe, which spread by means of the Rhine-Danube corridor, it would not be surprising if no Indo-European etymology existed for them. Some Celtic etymologies have been attempted, however. Whether the words descended into Celtic from Indo-European remains unknowable until more linguistic evidence on prehistoric Europe turns up.
Until then only speculation is available. Although considered to be Celtic, none of the possible name segments are easily derived from Celtic. The major etymological and mythological reference works avoid the three goddesses. They are local and are not very well known. The surviving evidence however firmly points to their existence. Perhaps additional evidence will one day bring them more clearly to light.
Sacred places
The Beten have left traces in Central Europe and Great Britain, the original Celtic homeland. It has been suggested that many European settlement names are derived from them; for example, in Germany: Bedburg, Bettendorf and Homburg-Beden; in France: Besançon, Les Bets, Bessay and the mountain Bethoa; England: Bedford. Names such as these define the range of a possible "Beten-cult". The cult seems to be most intense on the Rhine and Danube. On the other hand, many of these names have other suggested derivations; for example, Besancon from *ves-, "mountain". In the long run caution in identifying place-names with the Beten may be the most prudent policy.
References
- Anton Bauer, Zur Verehrung der hl. drei Jungfrauen Ainbeth, Gwerbeth und Fürbeth im Bistum Freising. In: Bayerisches Jahrbuch für Volkskunde 1961, S.33-44
- Rolf Wilhelm Brednich, Volkserzählungen und Volksglaube von den Schicksalsfrauen., Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, Helsinki 1964
- Erni Kutter, Der Kult der drei Jungfrauen. Eine Kraftquelle weiblicher Spiritualität neu entdeckt, München 1997
- Erni Kutter, Heilige Frauen in der evangelischen Kirche. Eine Einladung zur Spurensuche im Münster von Heilsbronn; in: Efi. Die evangelische Frauenzeitschrift für Bayern 2 (2001)
- Hans Christoph Schöll, Die drei Ewigen. Eine Untersuchung über germanischen Bauernglauben. Jena 1936
- Matthias Zender, Die Verehrung von drei heiligen Frauen im christlichen Mitteleuropa und ihre Vorbereitungen in alten Vorstellungen. In: Matronen und verwandte Gottheiten. Rheinland-Verlag, Köln 1987 (Beihefte der Bonner Jahrbücher 44)
External links
- Hotel Adler Eichstätt, Drei adelige Jungfrauen im fränkischen Jura und ihre Wurzeln .... German language.
- Anni Findl-Ludescher, Auf den Spuren des Kultes der drei Jungfrauen. Eine ungewöhnliche Pilgerreise (Der Innsbrucker Theologische Leseraum). German language.
- Norbert Firle, Die Ambet - Hofheimer Mythos. German language.
- die drei Bethen, Eichfelder site. German language.
- Hodge, Winifred, Matrons and Disir:The Heathen Tribal Mothers. English language.
- The Bethen - The Bavarian Triple Goddess. English article in druidry.org.
- Borbeth German language.