The Belaci were a small Gallic tribe dwelling in the Alpes Cottiae , around present-day Oulx , during the Iron Age .
11-542: They are mentioned as Belacorum on the Arch of Susa . The ethnonym Belaci is possibly Celtic, stemming from the root belo - ('strong') extended by the suffix - aco -. Variants beginning with V - may also occur in inscriptions, as in Vellaconis, Velaci, Velaco, Velagenius, Vilagenio, Vilagenia, Velagenus , or Velacena . The toponym Beaulard , located in their territory, derives from an earlier Belas . The Belaci dwelled around
22-731: A Gallic tribe dwelling in the Alps during the Iron Age . They are mentioned as Venisamorum on the Arch of Susa . The ethnic name Venisami is a latinized form of Gaulish * Uenisamoi ( sing. Uenisamos ). It can be derived from the stem ueni - ('family, clan, friends') attached to - sāmo - ('calm'), and translated as the 'friendly ones'. It is comparable with the personal names Uenisamus (in Cisalpina) and Uenixama (in Lepontia). They may have dwelled around Forum Germanici (modern Busca ), south of
33-525: A cult site dedicated to the Roman god Mars , ad ( fanum ) Martis . The settlement of Ad Fines (modern Fenils [ it ] ) may have served as the border between the territories of the Segovii and Belaci. They are mentioned on the Arch of Susa , erected by Cottius in 9–8 BC. Arch of Augustus (Susa) The Arch of Augustus is an important monument constructed in the city of Susa, Piedmont , in
44-527: The province of Turin . It was originally built at the end of the 1st century BC to record the renewed alliance between Emperor Augustus and Marcus Julius Cottius , a Celto-Ligurian ruler who had been made king and Roman prefect of the Cottian Alps . The arch, together with other remains from the period, such as the Roman amphitheatre and a Roman aqueduct , underscore the importance that the city of Susa had during
55-399: The Roman period. From above, the arch forms a rectangle 11.93 metres long and 7.3 metres wide. It rests on two large bases and there is only one archway. The white marble of the arch was sourced from a nearby quarries at Fornesto and Tre Piloni. The arch has a unique arcade, in which the archivolt is supported by pilasters . The entablature rests on four Corinthian columns placed at
66-663: The arch. The corbels' panels are decorated with roses. On top of that rests the attic , which displays an inscription on both faces. The inscription reads: IMP · CAESARI · AVGVSTO · DIVI · F · PONTIFICI · MAXVMO · TRIBVNIC · POTESTATE · XV · IMP · XIII · M · IVLIVS · REGIS · DONNI · F · COTTIVS · PRAEFECTVS · CEIVITATIVM · QVAE · SVBSCRIPTAE · SVNT · SEGOVIORVM · SEGVSINORVM · BELACORVM · CATVRIGVM · MEDVLLORVM · TEBAVIORVM · ADANATIVM · SAVINCATIVM · ECDINIORVM · VEAMINIORVM · VENISAMORVM · IEMERIORUM · VESVBIANIORVM · QVADIATIVM · ET · CEIVITATES · QVAE · SVB · EO · PRAEFECTO · FVERVNT Marcus Julius Cottius , son of King Donnus , leader of
77-442: The extremities of each corner, such that a quarter of each drum is embedded in the monument. The lowest architrave is composed of three bands of which the lowest band is thicker than the middle band, and this in turn is thicker than the top band. Above the architrave, a frieze composed of a bass relief stretches around all four sides. Above that is the cornice which has twenty-two corbels on each face and twelve on each side of
88-504: The following communities: the Segovii , Segusini , Belaci , Caturiges , Medulli , Tebavii , Adanates , Savincates , Ecdinii , Veaminii , Venisamores , Iemerii , Vesubianii , and Quadiates , and the (aforementioned) communities who were under this leader (dedicated this arch) to Imperator Caesar Augustus , son of a god , Pontifex Maximus , awarded tribunician power 15 times, and acclaimed Imperator 13 times. The frieze represents
99-443: The sacrifice of the suovetaurilia , a sacrifice in which the victims were a pig ( sus ), a sheep ( ovis ) and a bull ( taurus ) with the animals intended for sacrifice of exceptional size, clearly much larger than the men leading them to sacrifice. The scene has a great number of symbolic meanings, however it indicates above all that the sacrifice is the focus. The man performing the sacrifice is perhaps to be identified with Cottius. On
110-714: The settlements of Ad Martis (modern Oulx ) and Diovia ( Bardonecchia ). Their territory was located north of the Segovii , south of the Medulli , west of the Segusini , and east of the Graioceli . Their chief town, Ad Martis, was situated on the road crossing through the Alpes Cottiae above Segusio , at the confluence of the Dora di Bardonecchia and the Dora Riparia . It derives its name from
121-519: The western side some representatives of the Cottian communities mentioned in the inscription are depicted. On the southern side a second sacrifice, officiated by Cottius, is depicted. On the eastern side the scene has been completely destroyed by the ravages of time. 45°8′9.8″N 7°2′34.6″E / 45.136056°N 7.042944°E / 45.136056; 7.042944 Venisamores The Venisami ( Gaulish : * Uenisamoi ) or Venisamores were
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