TheMarsi were anItalic people ofancient Italy, whose chief centre wasMarruvium, on the eastern shore ofLake Fucinus (which was drained in the time ofClaudius). The area in which they lived is now calledMarsica. They originally spoke a language now termedMarsian which is attested by several inscriptions.
The Marsi were first mentioned as members of aconfederacy with theVestini,Paeligni andMarrucini.[1] They joined theSamnites in 308 BC,[2] and, on their submission, became allies ofRome in 304 BC.[3] After a short-lived revolt two years later, for which they were punished by the loss of territory,[4] they were readmitted to the Roman alliance and remained faithful down to theSocial War, their contingent[5] being always regarded as the flower of the Italian forces.[6]
The Latin colony ofAlba Fucens near the northwest corner of the lake was founded in the adjoiningAequian 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 ofCarsioli farther west. The earliest pure Latin inscriptions of the district seem to beC.I.L. IX 3827 and 3848 from the neighbourhood of Supinum; its character generally is of theGracchan period, though it might be somewhat earlier.
In theSocial 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 leaderQ. 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 usedOscan.[7]
The sanctuary ofLucus Angitiae, the chief temple and grove of the goddessAngitia stood at the southwest corner of Lake Fucinus, near the inlet to the tunnel ofClaudius and the village ofLuco dei Marsi. Angitia was widely worshipped in the central highlands[8] 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.[9] Their country was considered by Rome to be the home of witchcraft.[10]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Conway, Robert Seymour (1911). "Marsi". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. Endnote:Authority control databases: National |
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