The Ucennii, Ucenni or Iconii were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the Romanche valley, in the Alps, during the Iron Age.

Name

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They are mentioned as Ucenni (var. uceni, ucermi) by Pliny (1st c. AD) and on the Tropaeum Alpium,[1] as Ucennos (var. cennos, sennos, scennos) by Florus.[2][3] The form Ikónioi (Ἰκόνιοι) given by Strabo (early 1st c. AD) is most likely a variant of the ethnic name.[4][3]

The meaning of the name remains obscure, although it is most likely of Celtic origin. It can be compared with the toponym Ucena in Galatia.[3]

Geography

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The Ucenni lived in the Romanche valley, in the region of Oisans.[5][6] Their territory was located south of the Graioceli, west of the Belaci, Segovii and Brigianii, north of the Tricorii, and west of the Vertamocorii and Allobroges.[7]

Settlements are known at Catorissium (Le Bourg-d'Oisans), Mellosedum (Mont-de-Lans), and Durotincum (near La Grave and Villar-d'Arêne).[8]

History

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They are mentioned by Pliny the Elder as one of the Alpine tribes conquered by Rome in 16–15 BC, and whose name was engraved on the Tropaeum Alpium.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia, 3:20; CIL 5:7817.
  2. ^ Florus. Epitome, 2:22:4.
  3. ^ a b c Falileyev 2010, s.v. Ucennii.
  4. ^ Barruol 1969, p. 41.
  5. ^ Barruol 1969, pp. 320–323.
  6. ^ Graßl 2006.
  7. ^ Talbert 2000, Map 17: Lugdunum.
  8. ^ Barruol 1969, p. 322.
  9. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia, 3:20.

Primary sources

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  • Pliny (1938). Natural History. Loeb Classical Library. Translated by Rackham, H. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674993648.
  • Strabo (1923). Geography. Loeb Classical Library. Translated by Jones, Horace L. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674990562.

Bibliography

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