Grove of Andraste

Andraste was a warrior goddess and patron of the Iceni tribe. Accounts written by Dio Cassius talk of a pre-battle ritual performed by the queen of the Iceni, Boudicca, during her war against the Roman occupation of Britannia. After encouraging her people to stand against the invaders, Boudicca released a hare from the folds of her dress. The crowd waited with bated breath to see the direction in which the animal ran, as it would predict the outcome of the battle. On this occasion the omens were good, and Boudicca thanked the goddess Andraste for watching over her people in their time of need. The Romans eventually associated this powerful local deity with their own goddess of victory, Victoria.