Horse Pens

Horses played an important role in Celtic society, both spiritually and practically. Many Roman writers freely admitted that the Celts were excellent horsemen, and they went as far as calling Celtic mercenaries the best cavalry in the Roman army. The Romans even adopted a Celtic deity in the hope that she would bestow the equine knowledge and skill of the Celts upon Rome. Epona is one of very few deities to be accepted into the Roman pantheon without change, although her role did develop over time. Eventually, she provided protection for all those who worked with horses and not just the animals themselves. She was a popular deity among the Roman cavalry, and her cult spread across Europe wherever the Romans had cavalry garrisons.