- Italian Roots Newsletter
- Posts
- Ancient Italian Tribes — Apuli
Ancient Italian Tribes — Apuli
The Apuli or Iapyges inhabited the southeastern part of Italy or most of today’s Puglia. It is thought that they originated in Crete or Illyria and some say they are related to the Messapii, who lived in parts of Puglia and Calabria.
Their language however is closely related to the Messapic. It is distinct from Latin.
They were influenced by the Greek colonies and they had pit graves and stone tumuli.
Large cities developed in what is now Ordona, Canosa di Puglia, Ruvo di Puglia, Brindisi, Oria, Lecce, Rudiae and Manduria. They defended their independence against the Greeks until eventually conquered by Rome.
Their religious beliefs were indigenous with some Greek Elements. For example Aphrodite and Athena were worshipped. There is also evidence that live horses were sacrificed to the god Manzanas.
The aristocracy were known for their ornamental dress and by the 7th century BC they wore ornate costumes and jewelry. They wore their hair long and wore short tunics, young women wore long tunics belted at the waist.
They buried their dead close to their settlements with men and some women buried with weapons, arms and armor.
The post Ancient Italian Tribes — Apuli appeared first on Italian Genealogy.
Reply