Marsi

Template:Short description Template:About The Marsi were an Italic people of ancient Italy, whose chief centre was Marruvium, on the eastern shore of Lake Fucinus (which was drained in the time of Claudius). The area in which they lived is now called Marsica. They originally spoke a language now termed Marsian which is attested by several inscriptions.

History

The Marsi were first mentioned as members of a confederacy with the Vestini, Paeligni and Marrucini.<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Livy viii. 29, cf. viii. 6, and Polybius ii. 24, 12.</ref> They joined the Samnites in 308 BC,<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Liv. ix. 41.</ref> and, on their submission, became allies of Rome in 304 BC.<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Liv. ix. 45.</ref> After a short-lived revolt two years later, for which they were punished by the loss of territory,<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Liv. x. 3.</ref> they were readmitted to the Roman alliance and remained faithful down to the Social War, their contingent<ref>Template:Harvnb states: e.g. Liv. xliv. 46.</ref> being always regarded as the flower of the Italian forces.<ref>Template:Harvnb states: e.g. Horace Odes ii. 20, 18.</ref>

The Latin colony of Alba Fucens near the northwest corner of the lake was founded in the adjoining Aequian territory in 303 BC so that, from the beginning of the 3rd century, the Marsians were in touch with a Latin-speaking community, to say nothing of the Latin colony of Carsioli farther west. The earliest pure Latin inscriptions of the district seem to be C.I.L. IX 3827 and 3848 from the neighbourhood of Supinum; its character generally is of the Gracchan period, though it might be somewhat earlier.

In the Social War (91–87 BC) which, owing to the prominence of the Marsian rebels, is often known as the Marsic War, they fought bravely against odds under their leader Q. Pompaedius Silo and, though they were frequently defeated, the result of the war was the enfranchisement of the allies. All the coins of Pompaedius Silo have the Latin legend "Italia", while the other leaders in all but one case used Oscan.<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Unteritalische Dialekten, p. 345.</ref>

Religion

The sanctuary of Lucus Angitiae, the chief temple and grove of the goddess Angitia stood at the southwest corner of Lake Fucinus, near the inlet to the tunnel of Claudius and the village of Luco dei Marsi. Angitia was widely worshipped in the central highlands<ref>Template:Harvnb cites: Sulmo, C.I.L. ix. 3074, Furfo Vestinorum, ibid. 3515</ref> as a goddess of healing, especially skilled to cure serpent bites by charms and the herbs of the Marsian woods, which was carried out by local inhabitants until modern times.<ref>Template:Harvnb states: see A de Nino's charming collection of Usi e costumi abrusszest.</ref> Their country was considered by Rome to be the home of witchcraft.<ref>see Hor. Sat. i, 9, 29, Epod. 17, 28, &c.</ref>

See also

• Marsus (disambiguation), Latinisation of the name Marsi
• Umbrian language

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book

Attribution

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• • Template:Cite book (from which some portions of this article are taken; on the Fucino-Bronze, ib. p. 294)