THE PAELIGNI TRIBE, ILLYRIANS AND OVID
Autor institution: Sveučilište Waterloo (Kanada)
Abstract:
There are different theories on the origin of the Italic tribe Paeligni, inhabitants of Abruzzi, Italy. One of these theories has affirmed that Paeligni have been of Illyrian origin and it has been based on Sextus Pompeius Festus’ work Verborum significatu quae supersunt cum Pauli Epitome (On the Meaning of the Preserved Words with Epitome of Paul the Deacon). Festus was a Roman historian who lived in the 2nd Century A.D.
Ovid considered Paeligni as a tribe of Sabinian origin. Nevertheless it does not contradict theory of Illyrian origin of Paeligni because often several ethnic groups could melt in a tribe or nation. In his work Fasti (IV, 79–82) Ovid mentioned that his native place Sulmona has been founded by Aeneas’ companion Solymus who is known only from Ovid’s Fasti.
In this paper a special attention is paid to Ovid’s verses in which “Illyricum”, “Illyria”, “Pannonia” or “Dalmatia” have been mentioned.
Ovid is a rare Roman poet who in his verses wrote about Sarmatians, having mentioned his writing in „Getic language and in Sarmatian language“ („in Gethico… modis“ and „Seramtico… more“) and it attracted a special attention of the author of this short paper.
When some Croatian writers, such as Ignjat Đurđević (1676 – 1737), wrote about Ovid’s knowledge of „Savic language“, the most probably they kept in mind Ovid’s expression „sarmatico… more“.
Unfortunately, no words of Ovid’s writing in Getic or in Sarmatian language has been preserved.