Caelius Vibenna
Encyclopedia
Caelius Vibenna,Caelius Vibenna, (Etruscan
Caile Vipina, was a noble Etruscan
who lived c.900BC and brother of Aulus Vibenna (Etruscan
Avile Vipina).
Upon arriving at Rome, Vibenna aided Romulus
in his wars against Titus Tatius
. He and his brother Aulus are also recorded as having aided King Tarquinius Superbus, although Tarquinius Superbus lived some five generations after Romulus. Tacitus
relates that a certain hill in Rome, previously named Querquetulanus (after the trees covering the hill) was renamed the Caelian Hill
after Caelius Vibenna..
A burial urn inscribed Arnth Caule Vipina can be found at Deposito dé Dei at Etruria
, Italy. It is likely that the ashes within belong to a different Etruscan of the same name.
, in a speech to the Senate referred to the 'adventures' of Caelius Vibenna and his companion 'Mastarna', whom Claudius equates with Servius Tullius
. Claudius claimed that Mastarna left Etruria with the remnants of Caelius' army and occupied the Caelian Hill, naming it after Vibenna.
The Francois Tomb
at Vulci contains a scene showing Caelius and Aulus Vibenna taking part in one of these adventures. The scene appears to show Caelius and Aulus Vibenna and Mastarna with companions named 'Larth Ulthes', 'Rasce' and 'Marce Camitlnas'. These figures are shown slaughtering foes named as 'Laris Papathnas Velznach', 'Pesna Arcmsnas Sveamach', 'Venthical[...]plsachs' and 'Cneve Tarchunies Rumach' (interpreted as 'Gnaeus
Tarquin
ius of Rome'). It appears that the group of foes had taken Caelius, Aulus, Rasce and Marce prisoner, but while they were sleeping, Larth Ulthes has crept into their camp armed with swords which he has given to his companions. The erstwhile prisoners are shown killing their former captors. Mastarna is shown freeing Caelis Vibenna.
Etruscan language
The Etruscan language was spoken and written by the Etruscan civilization, in what is present-day Italy, in the ancient region of Etruria and in parts of Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna...
Caile Vipina, was a noble Etruscan
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
who lived c.900BC and brother of Aulus Vibenna (Etruscan
Etruscan language
The Etruscan language was spoken and written by the Etruscan civilization, in what is present-day Italy, in the ancient region of Etruria and in parts of Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna...
Avile Vipina).
Upon arriving at Rome, Vibenna aided Romulus
Romulus
- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
in his wars against Titus Tatius
Titus Tatius
The traditions of ancient Rome held that Titus Tatius was the Sabine king of Cures, who, after the rape of the Sabine women, attacked Rome and captured the Capitol with the treachery of Tarpeia. The Sabine women, however, convinced Tatius and the Roman king, Romulus, to reconcile and subsequently...
. He and his brother Aulus are also recorded as having aided King Tarquinius Superbus, although Tarquinius Superbus lived some five generations after Romulus. Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
relates that a certain hill in Rome, previously named Querquetulanus (after the trees covering the hill) was renamed the Caelian Hill
Caelian Hill
The Caelian Hill is one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome. Under reign of Tullus Hostilius, the entire population of Alba Longa was forcibly resettled on the Caelian Hill...
after Caelius Vibenna..
A burial urn inscribed Arnth Caule Vipina can be found at Deposito dé Dei at Etruria
Etruria
Etruria—usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia—was a region of Central Italy, an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria. A particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is D. H...
, Italy. It is likely that the ashes within belong to a different Etruscan of the same name.
In Legend
Caelius and Aulus Vibenna seem to have been well-known figures in Etruscan legend. ClaudiusClaudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
, in a speech to the Senate referred to the 'adventures' of Caelius Vibenna and his companion 'Mastarna', whom Claudius equates with Servius Tullius
Servius Tullius
Servius Tullius was the legendary sixth king of ancient Rome, and the second of its Etruscan dynasty. He reigned 578-535 BC. Roman and Greek sources describe his servile origins and later marriage to a daughter of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Rome's first Etruscan king, who was assassinated in 579 BC...
. Claudius claimed that Mastarna left Etruria with the remnants of Caelius' army and occupied the Caelian Hill, naming it after Vibenna.
The Francois Tomb
François Tomb
The François Tomb is an important painted Etruscan tomb from the Ponte Rotto Necropolis in the Etruscan city of Vulci, in what is now central Italy. It was discovered in 1857 by Alessandro François and Adolphe Noël des Verges. It dates to the last quarter of the fourth century BC...
at Vulci contains a scene showing Caelius and Aulus Vibenna taking part in one of these adventures. The scene appears to show Caelius and Aulus Vibenna and Mastarna with companions named 'Larth Ulthes', 'Rasce' and 'Marce Camitlnas'. These figures are shown slaughtering foes named as 'Laris Papathnas Velznach', 'Pesna Arcmsnas Sveamach', 'Venthical[...]plsachs' and 'Cneve Tarchunies Rumach' (interpreted as 'Gnaeus
Gnaeus
Gnaeus or Cnaeus was a Roman praenomen derived from Etruscan Cneve, of unknown meaning.Some individuals named Gnaeus were:*Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso*Gnaeus Cornelius Cinna Magnus*Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina*Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus...
Tarquin
Tarquin
Tarquin may refer to:* Tarquin , a chamber operaPeople with the given name Tarquin:* Tarquin the Elder , fifth of the seven legendary kings of Rome* Tarquin the Proud , last of the seven legendary kings of Rome...
ius of Rome'). It appears that the group of foes had taken Caelius, Aulus, Rasce and Marce prisoner, but while they were sleeping, Larth Ulthes has crept into their camp armed with swords which he has given to his companions. The erstwhile prisoners are shown killing their former captors. Mastarna is shown freeing Caelis Vibenna.