Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Abellio

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Abellio: One more in my occasional series illustrating that the world has and has had any number of gods for people to worship.

Abellio was worshipped in the Garonne Valley in Gallia Aquitania, which is now southwest France, and is primarily known by inscriptions discovered at Comminges. Little is known about this god, but it seems he may have been a god of apple trees. How very specific some of these ancient deities seem to have been.

Some scholars suggest that Abellio is a rendering of Apollo, who was called Abelios in Crete and Apello by the Italians. They believe that the deity is the same as the Gallic Apollo mentioned by Caesar.  In common with so many early deities, the actual origin of this god seems obscure. Such is the fate of gods who fail to come up with the goods for those who worship in the hope of reward, I guess.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Habitual

Habitual: adjective - inherent or latent in the mental constitution; of the nature of or fixed by a habit; constantly repeated or continued; customary; given to a specific habit; usual, constant, continual.

'Jennifer wore her habitual gown of gossamer over skin that was tanned by habitual worship of the sun.'

'Long custom, combined with ignorance, intolerance and prejudicial fear made the torture and demonization of pagan women habitual at the hands of the religious authorities.'

30 September 1861 William Wrigley, who founded Wrigley’s Chewing Gum Company, was born. Those who blame the producer for the sins of the users might wish to curse him for the sticky mess his products leave on our streets and elsewhere.

Pic: The beck at Staithes, North Yorkshire.