Taurini

File:Gallia Cisalpina-en.svg

Peoples of Cisalpine Gaul 391-192 BC.

The Taurini were a Ligurian or Celto-Ligurian tribe dwelling in the upper valley of the river Po, around present-day Turin, during the Iron Age and the Roman period.

Name

They are mentioned as Taurĩnoí (Ταυρῖνοί) by Polybius (2nd c. BC),<ref>Polybius. Historíai, 3:60:8.</ref> Taurini by Livy (late 1st c. BC),<ref>Livy. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, 5:34:8; 21:38:5.</ref> Taurinoí (Ταυρινοί) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD),<ref>Strabo. Geōgraphiká, 4:6:6; 4:6:12.</ref> Taurinorum by Pliny (1st c. AD),<ref>Pliny. Naturalis Historia, 3:123.</ref> and as Taurínōn (Ταυρίνων; var. Ταυρικῶν, Ταυρινῶν) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD).<ref>Ptolemy. Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis, 3:1:31.</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Harvnb, s.v. Taurini.</ref>

The ethnic name Taurini can be translated as 'the tribe of the bull'.Template:Sfn It is either an older form of the metathesized Celtic noun taruos ('bull'), or a non-Celtic Ligurian form.Template:Sfn<ref name=":0" />

Geography

The Taurini lived between the Dora Riparia and the upper Po river and the lower Dandrune river.Template:Sfn Their territory was located east of the Iemerii, west of the Libicii and Iadatini.<ref>Template:Harvnb, Map 39: Mediolanum.</ref>

File:Torino - Porta Palatina.jpg

Porta Palatina in Augusta Taurinorum (Turin).

Their original capital, Taurasia, was destroyed by the Carthaginians after they opposed in vain Hannibal's march into Italy in 218 BC. It was refounded by the Romans after 25 BC as Colonia Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin), at the confluence of the Dora and Po. The settlement was hit by a fire in 69 AD.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

History

They were involved in Rome's wars against the Celts at the end of the 4th century BC.Template:Sfn

In 218 BC, they were attacked by Hannibal, who had allied with their long-standing enemies, the Insubres. Their chief town was captured by Hannibal's forces after a three-day siege.Template:Sfn

Culture

The ethnic identity of the Taurini is unclear. They have been variously described as Celts, Ligurians, or more likely, Celticized Ligurians.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

See also

• List of ancient peoples of Italy

References

Bibliography

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Further reading

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