Laeaetani

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

LAEAETA´NI or LEËTA´NI (λαιαιτανοί, Ptol. 2.6. § § 18, 74; Λεητανοί, Strab. 3. p. 159), a people on the N. part of the E. coast of Hispania Tarraconensis, above the Cosetani. Strabo merely speaks vaguely of the sea-coast between the Ebro and the Pyrenees as belonging to the Leëtani and the Lartolaeëtae, and other such tribes(τῶν τε Λεητανῶν καὶ Λαρτολαιητῶν καὶ ἄλλων τοιούτων), as far as Emporium, while Ptolemy places them about Barcino ( Barcelona) and the river Rubricatus ( Llobregat); whence it appears that they extended from below the Rubricatus on the SW. up to the borders of the Indigetes, upon the bay of Emporiae, on the NE. They are undoubtedly the same people as the LALETANI of Pliny (Plin. Nat. 3.3. s. 4; comp. Inscr. ap. Gruter. p. cdxxx.), who speaks of their country (Laletania) as producing good wine in abundance. (Plin. Nat. 14.6. s. 8; comp. Martial (Mart. 1.27, 50, 7.52; Sil. Ital., 15.177.) Strabo describes it as a fertile country, well furnished with harbours. Besides their capital BARCINO( Barcelona), they had the following towns: (1.) On the sea coast, from SW. to NE.: BAETULO(Βαιτουλών, Ptol. 2.6.19: Badelona;Muratori, p. 1033, no. 3; Florez, Esp. S. vol. 24. p. 56, vol. 29. p. 31; Marca, Hisp. 2.15, p. 159), with a small river of the same name ( Besos:Mela, 2.6); ILURO or ELURO a city of the conventus of Tarraco, with the civitas Romana (Mela, 2.6; Plin. Nat. 3.3. s. 4; Αἰλουρών, Ptol. 2.6.19, where the vulgar reading is Διλουρῶν;prob. Mataro,. Marca, Hisp. 2.15, p. 159; Florez, Esp. S. vol. 29. p. 34) ; BLANDA(Βλάνδα, Ptol. l. c.: Blanes), on a height, NE. of the mouth of the little river LARNUM( Tordera:Plin. Nat. 3.3. s. 4): between Baetulo and Iluro Ptolemy places the LUNARIUM PR.(Λουνάριον ἄκρον); probably the headland marked by the Torre de Mongat). (2.) On the high road from Tarraco to Narbo Martius in Gaul ( Itin. Ant. p. 398): FINES20 M. P. W. of Barcino (near Martorell. on the right bank of the Llobregat), marking doubtless the borders of the Laeëmani and the Cosetani; then BARCINO; next PRAETORIUM17 M. P. (near Hostalrichor La Roca, where are great ruins; Marca, Hisp. 2.20); SETERRAE or SECERRAE15 M. P. (prob. S. Pere de Sercada or San Seloni); AQUAE VOCONIAE,15 M. P. ( Caldas de Malavella). (3.) Other inland towns : RUBRICATA(Ptol.); EGARA, a municipium, whose site is unknown (Inscr. ap. Muratori, p. 1106, no. 7, p. 1107, no. 1); AQUAE CALIDAE a civitas stipendiaria, in the conventsof Tarraco (Plin. Nat. 3.3. s. 4, Aquicaldenses: Caldas de Mombuy, N. of Barcelona, Marca, Hisp. 2.16, p. 167; Florez, Esp. S. vol. 29. p. 37; Ukert, vol. ii. pt. 1. pp. 423, 424.)
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