Thread: Plutarch
View Single Post
Old 09-20-2007, 06:29 PM   #2
Solon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Happy Valley, PA
Posts: 1,866
Solon is on a distinguished road
Default The Volsci

Quote:
Originally Posted by creekster View Post
I am listening to Plutarch's Roman Lives and in the one about Coriolanus (recall I am listening so I have no idea how to spell this stuff) He talks about the voskians (or somethign liek that). WHo are these people? I assume they are a tribe on the peninsula? ANd are the Latins something apart from or a larger group of than Romans?
The Volsci were an Italic people who lived southeast of Rome, and often attacked the Romans throughout the sixth and fifth centuries until Rome and its allies defeated them in 431. Although the Volsci maintained sporadic enmity towards Rome throughout the fourth century, defeats in the Latin War and the second Samnite war led to their Romanization and assimilation.

The Latins were an ethnic group, united by language, culture, mythology, and custom, that lived on the Italian peninsula. Rome was just one Latin settlement, and these small states often fought one another. Eventually, Rome became powerful enough to subsume the other Latin entities, and later mentions of cities or colonies with "Latin" rights or status meant only that these places had special relationships with the big city.

Kudos to you for giving Plutarch a shot. He's my favorite ancient author.
__________________
I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free. - Epitaph of Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957)
Solon is offline   Reply With Quote