The Eburovīcēs or Aulercī Eburovīcēs (Gaulish: *Eburouīcēs/Eburowīcēs, 'those who vanquish by the yew') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the modern Eure department during the Iron Age and the Roman period. They were part of the Aulerci.[1]
The Eburovīcēs or Aulercī Eburovīcēs (Gaulish: *Eburouīcēs/Eburowīcēs, 'those who vanquish by the yew') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the modern Eure department during the Iron Age and the Roman period. They were part of the Aulerci.[1]
They are mentioned as Aulerci Eburovices by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC),[2] Aulerci qui cognominantur Eburovices by Pliny (1st c. AD),[3] and as Au̓lírkioioi̔ E̓bourouikoì (Αὐλίρκιοιοἱ Ἐβουρουικοὶ) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD).[4][5]
The Gaulish ethnonym *Eburouīcēs/Eburowīcēs literally means 'those who vanquish by the yew', probably in reference to the wood used to make their bows or spears. It stems from the root eburo- ('yew'; cf. OIr. ibar 'yew', or Middle Welsh efwr 'cow parsnip, hog-weed') attached to the suffix -uices ('combatants, victors').[6][7]
The city of Évreux, attested ca. 400 AD as civitas Ebroicorum ('civitas of the Eburovices'; Ebroicas in 511, Ebroas ca. 1034), is named after the tribe.[8]
During the Roman period, their chief town was Mediolanum Aulercorum (modern Évreux, in Normandy).[1] The limits of their civitas corresponded to those of the later diocese of Évreux.[9]
A votive altar with a dedication to a deus Gisacos was found in a sanctuary at Gisacum (Le Vieil-Évreux).[9]
[A]ug(usto) deo Gisaco/ [Ta]uricius Agri/[co]la de suo po/suit
— Le Vieil-Évreux inscription.[9]
