The Benacenses were a Gallic tribe dwelling west of Lake Garda during the Roman period.

Name

They are mentioned as Benacens[es] on an inscription.[1][2]

The ethnic name Benacenses appears to be derived from the ancient name of Lake Garda, Lacus Benacus. The latter probably stems from an earlier *benn-āko- (cf. OIr. bennach 'pointed, horned'), built on the Gaulish stem benna- ('point, summit').[3][2]

Geography

The Bergalei lived on the western shore of Lake Garda (Lacus Benacus). Their territory was located west of the Sabini, Edrani and Stoeni, south of the Tublinates, and west of the Belouni.[4]

History

Around 81–96 AD, they dedicated with the Trumplini a monument to Julia Flavia, the daughter of emperor Titus, in the Roman colony of Brixia (Brescia).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b CIL 5:4313.
  2. ^ a b Falileyev 2010, s.v. Benacenses.
  3. ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 66.
  4. ^ Talbert 2000, Map 39: Mediolanum.

Bibliography

  • Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental. Errance. ISBN 9782877723695.
  • Falileyev, Alexander (2010). Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place-names: A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. CMCS. ISBN 978-0955718236.
  • Talbert, Richard J. A. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691031699.

Further reading

Categories