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The Orobii (also Orobi, Oromobi or Orumbovii) were a Celto-Ligurian tribe dwelling around present-day Como and Bergamo during the Iron Age.
They are mentioned as Orobii by Cato the Elder (early 2nd century BC).[1]
The ethnic name Orobii appears to be of Celtic origin. It can be compared with the Gaulish noun orbioi (sing. orbios), meaning 'the heirs', with the feminine forms Orobia and Urbia (earlier *Orbia), the ancient names of the Orge river and Orge stream, and with the i-stem Orobis, now the Orb river.[2]
Some classical writers such as Pliny the Elder thought that their name was of Greek origin, tracing the etymology from the Greek Orōn bion (Ορων βιον).[3]
The Orobii dwelled between the modern cities of Como and Bergamo. The Sottoceneri was part of their area of influence.[1]
Their territory was located north of the Gallianates, Bromanenses, and Anesiates, east of the Subinates and Ausuciates, west of the Gennanates, Trumplini and Camunni, south of the Aneuniates.[4]
Modern archaeologists and linguists see the Orobii as a population of Celticized Ligures, or Celtic-Ligures, formed with the contribution of Celtic immigrants from the Rhine and the Danube areas in an early historical period, before the Gallic invasions of the 4th century BC.[5][6]
Pliny the Elder says they founded the cities of Como, Bergamo, Licini Forum, and Parra.[7]
Like the Lepontii and Insubres, the Orobii are associated with the archaeological Golasecca culture.[1]
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