They are mentioned as Namnitō͂n (Ναμνιτῶν) by Polybius (2nd c. BC) and Strabo (early 1st c. AD),[1]Namnetes by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC) and Pliny (1st c. AD),[2] and as Namnē͂tai (Ναμνῆται) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD).[3][4]
The etymology of the ethnonymNamnetes remains uncertain. Xavier Delamarre has tentatively proposed to interpret the name as 'those of the river', by deriving it from the Proto-Indo-European root *nem- ('curved, bend'), which also gave the Gaulish stem nantu- ('valley, stream').[5] The element namn- in Namnetes has also been compared to river names such as the Namn-asa in northern Spain and the Nemun-as in Lithuania.[5][6] According to Blanca María Prósper, however, "Namnetes is a locus desperatus of Celtic etymology, and to judge from its overall look it probably contains a negative particle. Ethnic names often have an exotic, for us hardly understandable, and usually more complex look than place or river names."[6]
Their chief town was Condevincum, corresponding to the modern city of Nantes, and their chief port was known as Portus Nemetum.[7]
Historyedit
In the spring 56 BC, during the Gallic wars, the Namnetes allied to the Veneti to fight against the fleet made by Caesar.[7] Decimus Brutus, leader of the Roman fleet, finally won the battle.[9]
Samnitae/Namnete Women's Islandedit
According to Strabo, quoting Poseidonios, there is an island in the Ocean near the outlet of the Loire river which was inhabited by the "women of the Samnitae," which is generally taken to be a mistake and actually refers to the "Namnitae" or Namnetes.[10] No man was ever allowed on the island and the women themselves sailed from it to have intercourse with men on the continent before returning there again. They also had the strange custom of unroofing their temple every year and roofing it again on the same day before sunset, each woman bringing her load to add to the roof. The woman whose load would fall out of her arms was rent to pieces by the rest, and they allegedly carried the pieces round the temple with the cry of "Ev-ah" in a frenetic manner.[11]
According to French archaeologist Jean-Louis Brunaux, there are three reasons to consider the story as factual. First, the wet and windy climate of Western Gaul suggest that the Gallic dwellings (made of branches or reed) were re-roofed every year. Second, not to drop new material was, according to Pliny the Elder, a common religious practice of the Celts. Third, circumambulation existed as a rite among the Celts according to Poseidonios.[12]
^The dichotomy Samnitoi-Namnitoi is also present in Ptolemy's Geography : he writes that the Namnitoi live "south of the Veneti" while the "Namnitoi" are far in the east of the Andecavi and the Cenomani.
^Jean-Louis Brunaux. Les Druides. Des philosophes chez les barbares. Paris, Seuil, 2006, p. 241
Bibliographyedit
Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental. Errance. ISBN9782877723695.
Falileyev, Alexander (2010). Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place-names: A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. CMCS. ISBN978-0955718236.
Lafond, Yves; Olshausen, Eckart (2006). "Namnetae". Brill's New Pauly. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e816580.
Prósper, Blanca María (2013–2014). "Time for Celtiberian dialectology: Celtiberian syllabic structure and the interpretation of the bronze tablet from Torrijo del Campo, Teruel (Spain)". Keltische Forschungen. 6: 109–148.
namnetes, were, gallic, tribe, dwelling, near, modern, city, nantes, during, iron, roman, period, coins, contents, name, geography, history, samnitae, namnete, women, island, references, bibliographyname, editthey, mentioned, namnitō, Ναμνιτῶν, polybius, strab. The Namnetes were a Gallic tribe dwelling near the modern city of Nantes during the Iron Age and the Roman period Coins of the Namnetes Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 History 4 Samnitae Namnete Women s Island 5 References 5 1 BibliographyName editThey are mentioned as Namnitō n Namnitῶn by Polybius 2nd c BC and Strabo early 1st c AD 1 Namnetes by Caesar mid 1st c BC and Pliny 1st c AD 2 and as Namne tai Namnῆtai by Ptolemy 2nd c AD 3 4 The etymology of the ethnonym Namnetes remains uncertain Xavier Delamarre has tentatively proposed to interpret the name as those of the river by deriving it from the Proto Indo European root nem curved bend which also gave the Gaulish stem nantu valley stream 5 The element namn in Namnetes has also been compared to river names such as the Namn asa in northern Spain and the Nemun as in Lithuania 5 6 According to Blanca Maria Prosper however Namnetes is a locus desperatus of Celtic etymology and to judge from its overall look it probably contains a negative particle Ethnic names often have an exotic for us hardly understandable and usually more complex look than place or river names 6 Geography edit nbsp Map of the Gallic people of modern Brittany Osismii Veneti Coriosolites Redones NamnetesThe Namnetes dwelled between the lower Loire the Vilaine and the Semnon rivers 7 Their territory was situated west of the Andecavi south of the Veneti and Redones and north of the Pictones 8 Their chief town was Condevincum corresponding to the modern city of Nantes and their chief port was known as Portus Nemetum 7 History editIn the spring 56 BC during the Gallic wars the Namnetes allied to the Veneti to fight against the fleet made by Caesar 7 Decimus Brutus leader of the Roman fleet finally won the battle 9 Samnitae Namnete Women s Island editAccording to Strabo quoting Poseidonios there is an island in the Ocean near the outlet of the Loire river which was inhabited by the women of the Samnitae which is generally taken to be a mistake and actually refers to the Namnitae or Namnetes 10 No man was ever allowed on the island and the women themselves sailed from it to have intercourse with men on the continent before returning there again They also had the strange custom of unroofing their temple every year and roofing it again on the same day before sunset each woman bringing her load to add to the roof The woman whose load would fall out of her arms was rent to pieces by the rest and they allegedly carried the pieces round the temple with the cry of Ev ah in a frenetic manner 11 According to French archaeologist Jean Louis Brunaux there are three reasons to consider the story as factual First the wet and windy climate of Western Gaul suggest that the Gallic dwellings made of branches or reed were re roofed every year Second not to drop new material was according to Pliny the Elder a common religious practice of the Celts Third circumambulation existed as a rite among the Celts according to Poseidonios 12 References edit Polybius Historiai 34 10 6 Strabo Geōgraphika 4 2 1 Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico 3 9 10 Pliny Naturalis Historia 4 107 Ptolemy Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgesis 2 8 8 Falileyev 2010 s v Namnetes Civitas Namnetum and Portunamnetu a b Delamarre 2003 pp 231 232 a b Prosper 2013 2014 p 123 a b c Lafond amp Olshausen 2006 Talbert 2000 Map 7 Aremorica Map 14 Caesarodunum Burdigala Julius Caesar III 14 The dichotomy Samnitoi Namnitoi is also present in Ptolemy s Geography he writes that the Namnitoi live south of the Veneti while the Namnitoi are far in the east of the Andecavi and the Cenomani Strabo Geography IV 4 6 Jean Louis Brunaux Les Druides Des philosophes chez les barbares Paris Seuil 2006 p 241 Bibliography edit Delamarre Xavier 2003 Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise Une approche linguistique du vieux celtique continental Errance ISBN 9782877723695 Falileyev Alexander 2010 Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place names A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World CMCS ISBN 978 0955718236 Lafond Yves Olshausen Eckart 2006 Namnetae Brill s New Pauly doi 10 1163 1574 9347 bnp e816580 Prosper Blanca Maria 2013 2014 Time for Celtiberian dialectology Celtiberian syllabic structure and the interpretation of the bronze tablet from Torrijo del Campo Teruel Spain Keltische Forschungen 6 109 148 Talbert Richard J A 2000 Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0691031699 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Namnetes amp oldid 1169400931, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
