Sulis

Celtic deity

Also known as: Suleviae

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Sulis was a Celtic goddess revered at the geothermal springs in Roman Britain, now known as Bath, England. When the Romans arrived, they identified her with their goddess of wisdom, Minerva, and named the site Aquae Sulis, meaning "waters of Sulis". The Romans built a famous spa and a temple dedicated to Minerva/Sulis, who was associated with the healing properties of the springs. This syncretism, where a native deity is equated with a Roman one, was common in Roman Britain. The cult of Sulis Minerva was significant and persisted into the later Roman period.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Celtic religion
The Celtic gods
…was identified with the goddess Sulis, whose cult there centred on the thermal springs. Through the plural form Suleviae, found at Bath and elsewhere, she is also related to the numerous and important mother goddesses—who often occur in duplicate or, more commonly, triadic form. Her nearest equivalent in insular tradition…
Read More
…was identified with the goddess Sulis, whose cult there centred on the thermal springs. Through the plural form Suleviae, found at Bath and elsewhere, she is also related to the numerous and important mother goddesses—who often occur in duplicate or, more commonly, triadic form. Her nearest equivalent in insular tradition…
Read More