Laietani

The Iberian Peninsula in the 3rd century BC

The Laietani or Laeetani were an ancient Iberian (Pre-Roman) people of the Iberian Peninsula (the Roman Hispania). They inhabited the area occupied by the city of Barcelona. One of the main thoroughfares of the city, Via Laietana, is named after the Laietani. They are believed to have spoken an Iberian language.

Name

Coins with the inscription laiesken in northeastern Iberian script are interpreted as minted by the Laietani, and bearing an endonym of that people in the Iberian language: from the Laietani or from those of Laie. In addition, the name is attested in a few inscriptions. Ancient geographers that have written about the area used a greater variaty of names, including Laletani/Laletanum, Lasetani and Lacetani (or at least their manuscript traditions do). Modern editors tend to emend those writings based on the epigraphic evidence, while Lacetani is connected with the other Iberian people of Iacetani.

Gallery

• 
  Funerary stele from Badalona
• 
  Ruins of the Puig Castellar Iberian village, Santa Coloma de Gramanet
• 
  Inscribed lead plates from the Iberian archaeological site Penya del Moro, Sant Just Desvern
• 
  Vestiges of iberian archaeological site Ca n'Oliver Iberian Settlement and Museum, Cerdanyola del Vallès

See also

• Lacetani
• Iberians
• Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula

References

• Ángel Montenegro et alii, Historia de España 2 - colonizaciones y formación de los pueblos prerromanos (1200-218 a.C), Editorial Gredos, Madrid (1989) ISBN 84-249-1386-8

External links

•  Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "LAEAETA´NI". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
• Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)