Votodrones
Ancient Gallic people in Cisalpine Gaul
The Votodrones were an ancient Gallic people of Cisalpine Gaul, living near modern Somma Lombardo (Lombardy, northern Italy). They are known from a single Roman-period votive inscription, in which they appear as a community of villagers (vicani).
01Name
The name is recorded in a votive inscription to Hercules from Somma Lombardo, dated to the 2nd century AD:
Her[c]uli / vicani / Votodrones / v(otum) s(olverunt)
"To Hercules, the vicani Votodrones fulfilled their vow."
Xavier Delamarre analyses the name as the Gaulish compound Uoto-drones, which he interprets as 'those who dispute for their rights'. It is formed with uoto- 'right' (cf. Old Irish foth 'right, claim, what is due') attached to -drones 'dispute, combat' (cf. Old Irish drenn 'strife, dispute', Old Breton ardren and Welsh drynni 'combat').
02Geography
The inscription was found at Somma Lombardo, in the territory of Mediolanum (Transpadana, Regio XI), near Lake Maggiore.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Votodrones”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.