The Bergalei were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the Val Bregaglia during the Iron Age and the Roman period.
Name edit
The ethnic name Bergalei appears to derive from the Gaulish stem for 'mountain, mount', *berga-. It has been translated as the 'highland people'.[1]
Geography edit
The Bergalei lived in the Val Bregaglia, near the settlements of Clavenna (Chiavenna) and Murus (Bondo).[2][3] Their territory was located north of the Aneuniates, south of the Suanetes, west of the Rugusci.[3]
After their subjugation by Rome in 15 BC, they were integrated into the province of Raetia.[2]
History edit
They are mentioned during the reign of Claudius (41–54) in the context of an old dispute with the people of Comum.[4][2]
Culture edit
The Bergalei were not part of the Raeti. Two votive inscriptions dedicated to the god Mercurius Cissonius attest of a Celtic influence.[2]
References edit
- ^ de Bernardo Stempel 2008, p. 106.
- ^ a b c d Frei-Stolba 2002.
- ^ a b Talbert 2000, Map 19: Raetia.
- ^ Frezouls 1981, p. 241.
Bibliography edit
- de Bernardo Stempel, Patrizia (2008). "Linguistically Celtic ethnonyms: towards a classification". In García Alonso, Juan Luis (ed.). Celtic and Other Languages in Ancient Europe. Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca. ISBN 978-8478003358.
- Frei-Stolba, Regula (2002). "Bergalei". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.
- Frezouls, Edmond (1981). "A propos de la tabula Clesiana". Ktèma. 6 (1): 239–252. doi:10.3406/ktema.1981.1848.
- Talbert, Richard J. A. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691031699.