Camunni

The Camunni or ancient Camuns (Greek: polytonic|Καμοῦνοι for Strabo or polytonic|Καμούννιοι for Cassius Dio) were an Alpine people who inhabited the valley of the Ollius (modern Oglio), from the central chain of the Rhaetian Alps to the head of the Lacus Sebinus (modern Lago d'Iseo). This valley, which is still called the Val Camonica, is one of the most extensive on the Italian side of the Alps, being over 100 km in length. The actual inhabitants of Val Camonica are called "Camuns" (Italian: "Camuni").

According to Pliny, the Camunni were a Euganean tribe, while Strabo reckons them among the Rhaetians.

The name of the Camunni appears among the Alpine tribes who were reduced to subjection by Roman emperor Augustus, after which the inhabitants of all these valleys were attached, as dependents, to the neighbouring towns of Gallia Transpadana ("finitimis attributi municipiis", Plin. iii. 20. s. 24; Strab. iv. p. 206; Dion Cass. liv. 20). At a later period, however, the Camunni, appear to have formed a separate community of their own, and we find mention in inscriptions of the "Res Publica Camunnorum". (Orell. Inscr. 652, 3789.)

In the later division of the provinces, they came to be included in Regio X Venetia et Histria.

Classical references

ee also

*Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
*Camunic language
*Val Camonica

References

*SmithDGRG