TheAvantici (Gaulish: *Auanticoi) were a smallGallic tribe dwelling around present-dayGap, in the western part of the modernHautes-Alpesdepartment, during theRoman period.
They are only mentioned once asAvanticos (var.acanticos,aganticos) byPliny (1st c. AD).[1][2]
TheethnonymAvantici is a latinized form of theGaulish *Auanticoi (sing.Auanticos), deriving from the stemauant- ('source') attached to the adjectival suffix -ico-.[3][4] The stem does not appear to be Celtic. As the hydronymic lexicon is particularly resistant to name changes,auant- is probably a term of pre-CelticIndo-European origin (cf.Latv.avuots 'source',Skr.avatá- 'well, cistern'), which eventually came to be adopted by the Celts; it may have made use of it in proper names only.[5]
The territory of the Avantici roughly corresponded to the laterGapençais [fr] region.[6] It stretched between present-dayLa Roche-des-Arnauds (Ad Finem) and Le Fein (south ofChorges). To the south, they must have controlled the land immediately opposite Segustero (Sisteron), between theDurance and theBès [fr], as suggested by the name of theVançon [fr] river.[7] The Avantici dwelled east of theVocontii, north of theEdenates, west of theCaturiges, and south of theTricorii.[8] They were probably part of theVocontian confederation.[9][10]
The pre-Roman chief town of the Avantici was probably theoppidum of the hill of Saint-Mens, located 1km southeast of Vapincum.[11]
During the Roman period, their capital was known as Vapincum (modernGap), a station on the route between theRhône Valley and theItalian Peninsula.[12][13] In 69 AD, the territory of the Avantici was transferred, along with that of theBodiontici, to the province ofGallia Narbonensis byGalba. They probably belonged to theAlpes Maritimae or to theAlpes Cottiae prior to that event.[12] During the Late Empire, Vapincum became the chief town of thecivitas Vappencensium (var.uappin-) inNarbonensis Secunda, as documented by theNotitia Galliarum.[11]
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