Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/296

 280 MARSES. vol. i. pp. 357 — 361. The inscriptions are col- lected by Mommsen, I. li. N. pp. 290—294.) The little river Giovenco, which flows into the lake close to the site of the ancient city, is probably the stream called by the ancients Pitonius, concerning which they related many marvels. [FuciNUS Lacus.] Dionysius mentions (i. 14) a town called Maru- viiim (viapoviou) amone; the ancient settlements of the Aborigines in the neighbourhood of Reate, which is certainly distinct from the above, but is otherwise wholly unknown. [Aborigines.] [E. H. B.] MARSES. [Babylonia, p. 362.] MARSI (Mctptroi : Adj. MapcriKus, Marsicus), an ancient nation of Central Italy, who inhabited an inland and mountainous district around the basin of the lake Fucinus, where they bordered on the Peligni towards the E., on the Sabines and Vestini to the N. and on the Aequians, Hernicans, and Volscians, to the W. and S. There can be no doubt that they were, in common with the other inhabitants of the upland valleys of the central Apennines, a. race of Sabine origin; though we have no direct testimony to this effect. Indeed the only express statement which we find concerning their descent is that which represents them as sprimg from a son of Circe, obviously a mere mythological fable arising from their peculiar customs. (Plin. vii. 2; Solin. 2. § 27.) Another tradition, equally fabulous, but obscurely known to us, seems to have ascribed to them a Lydian origin, and derived their name from Marsyas. (Gellianus,' ap. Plin. iii. 1 2. s. 1 7 ; Sil. Ital. viii. 503.) But the close connection of the four nations of the Marsi, Marrucini, Peligni and Vestini, can leave no reasonable doubt of their common origin; and the Sabine descent of the Peligni at least is clearly attested. [Peligni.] It may be added that the Marsi are repeatedly mentioned by the Roman poets in a manner which, without distinctly affirming it, certainly seems to imply their connection with the Sabine race (Hor. Epod'.ll. 29; Juv. iii. 169; Virg. Georg. ii. 167.) That the Marsi and the JIarrucini were closely related is sufficiently evident from the resemblance of their names, which are in fact only two forms of the same; the old form Marrubii or Marruvii, retained by Virgil {Aen. vii. 750) as the name of the people, as well as preseiTed in that of their capital city, JIarrubium, being the connecting link between the two. (Niebuhr, vol. i. p. 100.) This connection seems to have been already perceived by Cato {ap. Priscian. ix. p. 871), though he mixed it ftp with a strange etymological fable. But we have no historical account, or even tradition, of the origin or separation of these closely connected tribes, which appear in history together with the Peligni and Vestini, as nearly related, but still distinct, nations. The Marsi are first noticed in Roman history in B. c. 340, at which time they, as well as the Peligni, were on friendly terms with the Romans, and granted a free passage to the consuls who were proceeding with their armies through Sainnium into Campania. (Liv. viii. 6.) At the commencement of the Second Samnite War they appear to have remained neutral ; and even when their kinsmen and allies the Vestini were assailed by the Roman arms, they did not, as had been expected, take up arms in their defence. (Id. viii. 29.) It was not till B.C. 308 that we first find them engaged in hostilities with Rome, and we have no explanation of the circumstances which then induced them to take part with the Samnites. (Id. ii. 41.) It is indeed singular that while Livy notices MARSI. this campaign as memorable from its being the first occasion on which tiie Romans were 0])posed to the Marsians, Diodorus gives a wholly different account, and represents the two nations as in alliance against the Samnites. (Diod. xx. 44.) There is, however, every probability that the account given by Livy is the more correct one, as we find shortly after (b. c. 304) a special treaty concluded with the Marsi, Slarrucini, and Peligni, immediately after the defeat of the Aequians. (Liv. ix. 45; Diod. xx. 101.) But a few years later (b. c. 301) the Marsi again took up arms (this time apparently single-handed) to oppose the foundation of the Roman colony at Carseoli, on the immediate frontiers of their territory. ^ They were, however, easily defeated ; three of their towns, Plestina, Milionia, and Fresilia, were taken; and they were compelled to purchase peace by the cession of a part of their territory. (Liv. x. 3.) With this exception, they obtained favourable teniis, and the former treaty was renewed. From this time the Marsi, as well as their con- federate tribes, the Marrucini, Peligni, and Vestini, became the faithful and constant allies of Rome, and occupied a prominent position among the " socii" whose contingents bore so important a share in the Roman victories. The names of the four nations are sometimes all mentioned, sometimes one or other of them omittetl ; while the Frentani, who appear, though of Samnite origin, to have maintained closer political relations with their northern neighbours, are, in consequence, often associated with them. Thus Polybius, in enumerating the forces of the several Italian nations in b. c. 225, classes the Marsi, Man-ucini, Vestini and Frentani, under one head, while he omits the name of the Peligni alto- gether. (Pol. ii. 24.) Dionysius, on the other hand, notices hy name only the Marmcini, Peligni, and Frentani, among the Roman allies at the battle of Asculum, omitting both the Marsi and Vestini ; while Silius Italicus enumerates them all among the Roman allies at the battle of Cannae. (Dionys. xx. Yr. Didot; Sil. Ital. viii. 495— .520.) Ennius also associated together the " Marsa manus, Peligna cohors, Vestina virum vis." (Enn. Fr. p. 150.) During the Second Punic War they suffered severely for their fidelity to Rome, their territory being re- peatedly ravaged by Hannibal. (Liv. xxii. 9, xxvi. 11.) Nevertheless, towards the close of the same war, they were among the foremost to offer volun- teers to the fleet and army of Scipio in b. c. 205. (Id. xxviii. 45.) During this period the Marsi appear to have earned a high reputation among the Roman allies for their courage and skill in war; a character which they shared in common with the neighbouring tribes. But their chief celebrity was derived from the pro- minent part which they took in the great struggle of the Italian allies against Rome, commonly called the Social War, but which appears to have been more frequently termed by the Romans themselves the Marsic War. (Bellum Marsicum, Fast. Capit. ; Veil. Pat. ii. 21 ; Cic. de Div. i. 44, &c.; <5 ViapaiKSs KaXovfjiivos TcoXfixos, Strab. v. p. 241.) Pompaedius Silo, who is termed by Livy one of the chief authors of this memorable contest, was himself a Mansian; and it was probably at his instigation that the Marsi were the first to take up arms after the outbreak of the Picentes at Ascuhmi; thus at once imparting to the impending contest the character of a national war. (Veil. Pat. ii. 15; Strab. v. p. 241; Diod. sxxvii. 2.) Their example was immediately followed