Ancasta was a Celtic goddess worshipped in Roman Britain. She is known from a single dedicatory inscription found in the United Kingdom at the Roman settlement of Clausentum (Bitterne, near Southampton).Jufer, Nicole, & Thierry Luginbühl (2001). Les dieux gaulois : répertoire des noms de divinités celtiques connus par l'épigraphie, les textes antiques et la toponymie. Paris: Editions Errance. . p.21. Ancasta may be taken to be a local goddess, possibly associated with the nearby River Itchen.
The votive dedication to Ancasta reads: DEAE ANCASTAE GEMINVS MANI VSLM "To the goddess Ancasta, Geminus Mani[lius] willingly and deservedly fulfills his vow."
It may be possible that the name 'Ancasta' is related to Proto-Celtic *kasto- meaning 'swift'.Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales. "Proto-Celtic—English lexicon." (See also this page for background and disclaimers.)
The inscription is now in the SeaCity Museum.Clausentum, Pastscape, retrieved 13 January 2012 It was previously in the museum at God's House Tower.
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