Which European city used to be called Lutetia? History of the origin of the name

Toponymy knows many examples of how the name of one and the same settlement changed throughout its existence. From the distant past came to us the name of one of the ancient cities. About what European city used to be called Lutetia, where it came from and why it did not survive until our time - read below.

Origin of names

Cities and villages receive their names from people who inhabit them. But the meaning of this or that name is hidden from contemporaries. For example, for many, London is a typical English name, and no one doubts that the city was named by the English. Few people guess that this name was given to the settlement by an ancient people, who even before the Celts inhabited this area. Most scientists are inclined to believe that this name means "a stream of water". The Germanic Saxon tribe that replaced the primordially Celtic population changed the ancient name, and the Romans changed the name of the settlement once again. Thus, the name of a city or a village can change many times, sometimes getting lost in the centuries, and sometimes reaching our days in an unrecognizable form. Only in extreme cases, cities survive several centuries, preserving their ancient name, understandable to contemporaries.

Origin of the city

Finding the right answer to the question of which European city used to be called Lutetia, gave scientists food for many conjectures and hypotheses. This name was found in ancient chronicles and manuscripts of the Roman Empire, and therefore it was a fairly well-known city. In the fragmentary information of antiquity it was said that Julius Caesar led his troops to the walls of Lutetia. Even then the city was famous. Presumably he was on the island of Cité and was the capital of the Parizian tribe. Archaeologists have discovered traces of stone piles on which ancient inhabitants built their houses. Preserved ancient buildings and traces of structures characteristic of the late Neolithic era. Finally, archaeologists found several ancient coins - statues, which were minted in Lutetia before it was conquered by the Romans.

Against Caesar's troops, the Parisian tribe set up about 8,000 trained soldiers, which means that, at the time of the Roman occupation, Lutetia was an influential and densely populated city-state.

Location of the city

Traditionally, Lutetia was located on the island of Cite, which is currently in the central district of Paris. But it should be taken into account that over the entire period of the existence of this city the Seine has repeatedly changed the outlines of its shores. What a European city used to be called Lutetia, it has long been clarified, but scientists are still arguing about where this place was located. Studies are hampered primarily by the fact that the terrain has been repeatedly conquered, was the arena of ancient battles and modern battles. All the finds of that old time can be counted on the fingers. But it is nevertheless clear that Lutetia really existed and was a major European city.

Origin of the name

The geography of the location of this inhabited island already in itself gives an idea of which European city used to be called Lutetia - Rome or Paris. The name of Rome practically did not change over the millennia of its existence, but Paris was named so only after the Romans left this settlement. Prior to this, the city was known as Parizi. Which meant "the place of the village of parisias," a large tribe of Gallic origin, which accounted for a large part of the inhabitants of this area. Since the ancient notes of Julius Caesar have been found and subjected to painstaking analysis, disputes have ceased about which European city used to be called Lutetia. Pictures of the original life of the ancient Gauls give an idea of houses built on stilts, of streams of mud and river mud, which each year inflicted the Seine in the period of its spills. On the one hand, this created inconveniences for the life and movement of people within the city, and on the other - caused additional difficulties in the siege of Lutetia. The mud of the Seine was feeding a multitude of tribes that lived off farming. After all, annual spills gave the necessary moisture and fertilized fields near the walls of the city.

The ancient name of Lutetia originated from the Latin "dirt", so the Romans showed their indignation constantly dirty streets of the city. It was hardly a question of the cleanliness of its inhabitants: the ancient Roman and the ancient barbarian were approximately in the same conditions. It is natural to assume that the Romans, accustomed to the dry and sunny climate, were unpleasantly surprised by the spills of the Seine and the accumulation of mud deposits near its shores.

Thus, the name Lutetia appeared on the maps of the Ancient World. But the very name of this settlement, undoubtedly, is connected with the tribe of Parisians that lived in it. Thus, the name Lutetia refers only to the period of the conquest of Gaul by the Romans. Before and after Rome, Lutetia was called Parisius, later changed to Paris.

conclusions

Only the painstaking work of archaeologists, linguists, historians helped to answer the question of which European city used to be called Lutetia. Photos of antiquities from the island of Cite indicate that the paris were engaged in fishing, willingly mastered the banks of the Seine and owned the art of building river transport vehicles. The remains of buildings speak of the defense facilities of the city. The arena of Lutetia, whose ruins have survived to this day, gives an idea of the strong influence of Roman civilization on local peoples. Finally, Caesar's notes for 53 and 52 BC. E. Confirm the existence of Lutetia.

The answer to the question of which European city used to be called Lutetia can only be given one. This name was given to ancient Paris during the Roman conquest. After the departure of the Romans, the Gauls returned the old name to their native city. And it has come down to our days practically unchanged.