Latin Place Names |
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By country |
By type |
This list includes countries and regions in the current common definition of the Balkans that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.
Until the Modern Era, Latin was the common language for scholarship and mapmaking. During the 19th and 20th centuries, German scholars in particular have made significant contributions to the study of historical place names, or Ortsnamenkunde. These studies have, in turn, contributed to the study of genealogy. For genealogists and historians of pre-Modern Europe, knowing alternate names of places is vital to extracting information from both public and private records. Even specialists in this field point out, however, that the information can be easily taken out of context, since there is a great deal of repetition of place names throughout Europe; reliance purely on apparent connections should therefore be tempered with valid historical methodology.
Latin place names are not always exclusive to one place – for example, there were several Roman cities whose names began with Colonia and then a more descriptive term. During the Middle Ages, these were often shortened to just Colonia. One of these, Colonia Agrippinensis, retains the name today in the form of Cologne.
Early sources for Roman names show numerous variants and spellings of the Latin names.
The modern canonical name is listed first. Sources are listed chronologically. In general, only the earliest source is shown for each name, although many of the names are recorded in more than one of the sources. Where the source differs in spelling, or has other alternatives, these are listed following the source. As an aid to searching, variants are spelled completely, and listed in most likely chronology.
Superscripts indicate:
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Amantia | Amantia |
Antigonea | Gjirokastër |
Antipatrea | Berat |
Apollonia | Fier |
Aulona | Vlorë |
Buthrotum | Butrint |
Bylis | Ballsh |
Dyrrhachium (2PG15: Epidaurus) | Durrës |
Lissus (2PG15) | Lezhë - Lyssos |
Scodra (2PG15) | Shkodër - Shkodra - Scutari |
Tyrana (GOL) | Tirana |
Valebona | Tropojë |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Aquae Sulphurae | Ilidža |
Neuense | Neum |
Pelva | Livno - Ludricensis |
Saloniana (2PG15) | Mostar - Vitrinica |
Salvia (2PG15), Salvium | Glamoč |
Serbinum, Servitium | Gradiška |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Abritum, Abrittus | Razgrad |
Aetus, Astus, Idus, Aquilia | Aytos |
Almus, Artanus | Lom |
Anchialus | Pomorie |
Apollonia Pontica, Appolonia Magna, Antheia, Sozopolis | Sozopol |
Augusta Traiana, Augustra Trajana | Stara Zagora |
Aurea | Zlatitsa |
Bononia | Vidin |
Copsis | Karlovo |
Debeltum, Pyrgus | Burgas |
Diocletianopolis | Hisarya |
Dionysopolis | Balchik |
Diospolis | Yambol |
Durostorum | Silistra |
Escus, Oescus | Gigen |
Germanea | Separeva Banya |
Magura Piatra, Regianum, Camistrum, Augusta | Kozloduy |
Marcianopolis | Devnya |
Melta, Praesidium, Caesaria | Lovech |
Menebria, Mesembria, Metropolis Nova | Nesebar |
Montana, Municipium Montanensium | Montana |
Nicopolis | Nikopol |
Nicopolis ad Istrum | Nikyup (20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo) |
Nicopolis ad Nestum, Neurocopia | Gotse Delchev, Nevrokop |
Novae | Svishtov |
Odessus¹ | Varna |
Pautalia | Kyustendil |
Peronticus, Agathopolis | Ahtopol |
Ratiaria | Archar |
Scaptopara | Blagoevgrad |
Serdica | Sofia |
Sexaginta Prista | Ruse |
Stenimachus | Asenovgrad |
Stipum | Ihtiman |
Storgosia | Pleven |
Trimontium, Philippopolis | Plovdiv |
Ulpia Oescus, Palatiolum | Gigen |
Valve | Vratsa |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Aenona (2PG15) | Nin (Nona) |
Aequum (2PG15) | Čitluk, near Sinj Split-Dalmatia County |
Albona | Labin (Albona) |
Andautonia | Ščitarjevo near Zagreb |
Aqua Balissae | Daruvar |
Aqua Viva | Petrijanec near Varaždin |
Aquama | Čakovec |
Cibalae | Vinkovci |
Epidaurus (2PG15), Epidauros | Cavtat |
Flanona (2PG15) | Plomin (Fianona) |
Flumen | Rijeka (Fiume), (Terra Fluminis Sancti Viti ) |
Iadera (2PG15: Iader) | Zadar (Zara) |
Issa (2PG15) | Vis (Lissa) |
Lopsica (2PG15) | Sveti Juraj |
Marsonia | Slavonski Brod |
Mursa | Osijek |
Narona (2PG15) | Vid, near Metković |
Neapolis-Aemonia | Novigrad (Cittanova) |
Nesactium | Vizače |
Oneum (2PG15: Onaeum) | Omiš |
Parentium | Poreč (Parenzo) |
Petina | Pićan (Pedena) |
Pharus | Hvar (Lesina) |
Piquentum | Buzet (Pinguente) |
Pola | Pula (Pola), Pulj |
Ragusa | Dubrovnik (Ragusa) |
Rocium (or Rotium) | Roč (Rozzo) |
Salona (2PG15) | Solin (Salona) |
Scardona (2PG15) | Skradin |
Senia (2PG15) | Senj (Segna, Zengg) |
Siscia | Sisak |
Spalatum | Split (Spalato) |
Tarsatica (2PG15) | Trsat (Tersatto) (near Rijeka) |
Tragurion (2PG15: Tragurium) | Trogir (Traù) |
Vegium | Karlobag |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Acharnae¹ | Acharnes, Menidi |
Aegina | Aegina |
Agrinium¹ | Agrinio - Agrinion |
Alexandropolis¹ | Alexandroupolis |
Almyrus¹ | Almyros |
Amphilochia¹ | Amphilochia |
Amphipolis¹ | Amphipolis |
Amphissa¹ | Amphissa - Amfissa |
Argos¹ | Argos |
Atalanta | Atalante - Atalanta |
Athenae¹ | Athens |
Berroea | Verroia - Berrea |
Carystus¹ | Carystos - Carystus |
Cenchreae¹ | Kechries - Cenchreae, near Corinth |
Chalcis¹ | Chalkida, Euboea |
Corcyra³ | Corfu |
Corinthus¹ | Corinth |
Delphi¹ | Delphi |
Dodona¹ | Dodona |
Eleusis¹ | Eleusis |
Epidaurus¹ | Epidaurus |
Gythium | Gytheion |
Heracleium¹ | the port of Knossos, perhaps Amnisos, east of modern Iraklion, Crete (the name Iraklion/Herakleion for the medieval and modern city only dates from around 1900) |
Isthmia¹ | Isthmia, slightly east of Corinth |
Laurium, (Thoricum before mid-1st century BC) | Laurium - Laurion |
Leucas | Lefkada - Lefkas - Leucas |
Marathon, Marathonis¹ | Marathon |
Megalopolis¹ | Megalopolis |
Megara | Megara, west of Athens |
Mycenae | Mycenae (Mykênes, Mykênai) |
Naupactus | Na(u)fpaktos |
Nauplium¹ | Na(u)fplion |
Nemea¹ | Nemea |
Nicopolis¹ | Nicopolis |
Nova Ionia (Athenae) | Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Athens |
Nova Ionia (Thessalia) | Nea Ionia - New Ionia, Thessaly |
Olympia¹ | Olympia |
Olympias¹ | Olympias - Olympiada |
Orchomenos¹ | Orchomenus |
Paeania¹ | Paiania - Paeania |
Patrae¹, Ares Patrensis | Patras |
Phalerum | Phaleron - Faliron |
Philippi | Philippi |
Piraeus | Piraeus |
Potidaea¹ | Potidaea - Potidaia |
Salamis¹ | Salamis |
Sparta¹ | Sparta |
Tegea | Tegea, near Tripoli |
Thebae (Boeotia/Athenae) | Theva - Thebes |
Thermopylae¹ | Thermopylae |
Thessalonica, Salonica¹ | Thessaloniki, Saloniki - Salonika, Makedonia |
Tripolis | Tripoli [ dubious ] |
Troezen, Troezena¹ | Troezen |
Uranopolis¹ | Uranopoli - some prefer Uranopolis |
Zycanthus, Zacynthus¹ | Zante - Zakynthos |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Theranda | Prizren |
Ulpiana | Lipjan |
Vicianum | Vushtrri |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Acruvium | Kotor |
Anagastum, Anderva, Anderba | Nikšić |
Antipargal (Antibarium, 10th century) | Bar |
Birziminium | Podgorica (Titograd, Ribnica) |
Colchinium, Olcinium, Ulcinium | Ulcinj |
D(i)oclea | Duklja |
Rhizon (2PG15: Rhisium), Rhizinium, Risinium | Risan |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Lychnidus | Ohrid |
Monasterium | Bitola |
Scopium, Scupium | Skopje |
Stibo, Estipium | Štip |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Abruttus | Abrud |
Aegyssus | Tulcea |
Ad Aquas | Călan |
Ad Mediam | Mehadia |
Ad Pannonios | Teregova |
Ad Stoma | Brețcu |
Alburnus Maior | Roșia Montană |
Altinum | Oltina |
Ampelum | Zlatna |
Angustia | Râșnov |
Apulum | Alba Iulia |
Arcidava | Vărădia |
Arrubium | Măcin |
Arutela | Călimănești |
Bersobis, Berzobis | Berzovia |
Brucla | Aiud |
Calatis, Callatis | Mangalia (Tomisovara), (Panglicara, Pangalia) |
Caput Stenarum | Boița |
Carsium | Hârșova |
Centum Putea | Surducu Mare |
Cibinum | Sibiu, Sibiu County |
Colonia Ulpia Traiana | Sarmizegetusa |
Corona, Civitas Coronensis | Brașov, (Kronstadt, Brassó) |
Dierna | Orșova |
Drobeta | Drobeta-Turnu Severin |
Forum Novum Siculorum | Târgu-Mureș, Mureș County |
Germisara | Geoagiu |
Iassium | Iași |
Media | Mediaș, Sibiu County |
Micia | Vețel |
Napoca, Claudiopolis | Cluj-Napoca |
Noviodunum | Isaccea, Tulcea County |
Porolissum | Moigrad |
Potaissa | Turda |
Praetorium | Copăceni, Vâlcea County |
Resculum | Bologa |
Romula-Malva | Reșca Dobrosloveni |
Salinae | Ocna Mureș |
Sucidava | Celei |
Tapae | Poarta de Fier a Transilvaniei |
Temesiensis | Timișoara, Timiș County |
Tibiscum | Jupa, Caraș-Severin |
Tomis | Constanța |
Troesmis | Iglița (Turcoaia) |
Ulmetum | Pantelimonul de Sus, Constanța County |
Varadinum | Oradea |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Adrianopolis | Edirne - Adrianople |
Byzantium | Istanbul, Constantinople |
Constantinopolis | Istanbul, Constantinople |
Roma Nova | Istanbul, Constantinople |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Acumincum | Stari Slankamen - Slankamen |
Bassianae | Donji Petrovci |
Bononia | Banoštor |
Burgenae | Novi Banovci |
Cusum | Petrovaradin |
Lederata | Rama |
Naissus | Niš |
Neoplanta | Novi Sad |
Remesiana | Bela Palanka |
Rittium | Surduk |
Semendria | Smederevo |
Singidunum | Belgrade (Beograd) |
Sirmium | Sremska Mitrovica |
Taurunum | Zemun |
Viminacium (2PG15: Iminacium) | Kostolac |
Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s)) | English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s) |
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Ad Pirum | Hrušica |
Aegida, Capris, Caput Histriae | Koper (Capodistria) |
Arae Postumiae | Postojna |
Atrans | Trojane |
Carnium, Carnioburgum | Kranj |
Castra | Ajdovščina |
Celeia | Celje |
Emona, Aemona, Labacum | Ljubljana |
Lithopolis | Kamnik |
Longaticum | Logatec |
Marburgum | Maribor |
Nauportus | Vrhnika |
Neviodunum | Drnovo |
Poetovio | Ptuj |
Pyrrhanum | Piran (Pirano) |
Following is a list of rivers of classical antiquity stating the Latin name, the equivalent English name, and also, in some cases, Greek and local name. The scope is intended to include, at least, rivers named and known widely in the Roman empire. This includes some rivers beyond the bounds of the Roman empire at its peak.
The Volcae were a Gallic tribal confederation constituted before the raid of combined Gauls that invaded Macedonia c. 270 BC and fought the assembled Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae in 279 BC. Tribes known by the name Volcae were found simultaneously in southern Gaul, Moravia, the Ebro valley of the Iberian Peninsula, and Galatia in Anatolia. The Volcae appear to have been part of the late La Tène material culture, and a Celtic identity has been attributed to the Volcae, based on mentions in Greek and Latin sources as well as onomastic evidence. Driven by highly mobile groups operating outside the tribal system and comprising diverse elements, the Volcae were one of the new ethnic entities formed during the Celtic military expansion at the beginning of the 3rd century BC. Collecting in the famous excursion into the Balkans, ostensibly, from the Greek point of view, to raid Delphi, a branch of the Volcae split from the main group on the way into the Balkans and joined two other tribes, the Tolistobogii and the Trocmi, to settle in central Anatolia and establish a new identity as the Galatians.
Paropamisadae or Parapamisadae was a satrapy of the Alexandrian Empire in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, which largely coincided with the Achaemenid province of Parupraesanna. It consisted of the districts of Sattagydia, Gandhara, and Oddiyana. Paruparaesanna is mentioned in the Akkadian language and Elamite language versions of the Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great, whereas in the Old Persian version it is called Gandāra. The entire satrapy was subsequently ceded by Seleucus I Nicator to Chandragupta Maurya following a treaty.
The Helveconae, or Helvaeonae, or Helvecones, or Aelvaeones, or Ailouaiones were a Germanic tribe mentioned by Roman authors. They are possibly connected to the Hilleviones of Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder. The Helveconae as such are one of the tribal states of the Lugii mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. The Lugii were located in the Silesia area. Their ethnicity is speculative. Subsequent authors, such as Johann Jacob Hofmann, 1635-1706, identified the people of Tacitus with a people of Ptolemy, the Ailouaiones in Greek, which has been Latinized to Aelvaeones. Perhaps the scholars innovated Helvecones, which is not attested in classical times.
The Cavarī or Cavarēs were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the western part of modern Vaucluse, around the present-day cities of Avignon, Orange and Cavaillon, during the Roman period. They were at the head of a confederation of tribes that included the Tricastini, Segovellauni and Memini, and whose territory stretched further north along the Rhône Valley up to the Isère river.
The Medulli were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper valley of Maurienne, around present-day Modane (Savoie), during the Iron Age and Roman period.
The Parisii were a Gallic tribe that dwelt on the banks of the river Seine during the Iron Age and the Roman era. They lived on lands now occupied by the modern city of Paris, whose name is derived from the ethnonym.
The etymology of Aberdeen is that of the name first used for the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, which then bestowed its name to other Aberdeens around the world, as Aberdonians left Scotland to settle in the New World and other colonies.
The Gabali were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the later Gévaudan region during the Iron Age and the Roman period.
The Avatici were a Gallic tribe dwelling near the Étang de Berre, between the mouth of the Rhône river and Massilia, during the Roman period.
The Avantici were a small Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day Gap, in the western part of the modern Hautes-Alpes department, during the Roman period.
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