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In Celtic mythology, Dea Matrona ('Divine Mother') was the goddess who gives her name to the river Marne (ancient MatrŏnaAncient authors referring to the river Marne as Matrona include Julius Caesar, Ammianus Marcellinus, Ausonius and Sidonius Apollinaris. ) in Gaul.
The Gaulish language theonym Mātr-on-ā signifies 'Great Mother' and the goddess of the Marne has been interpreted to be a mother goddess.Cf.
Many Gaulish religious images—including inexpensive terracotta Mass production for use in household —depict mother goddesses nursing babies or holding fruits, other foods, or small dogs in their laps. In many areas, such Matronae were depicted in groups of three (or sometimes two) (see Matres and Matronae for the triads of mother goddesses well attested throughout northern Europe).
The name of Welsh mythological figure Modron, mother of Mabon, is derived from the same etymon (and Mabon has a cognate in Gaulish Maponos).
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