Strigusi

Strigusi is a term that appears in a small group of Latin-language sources with no single, widely accepted definition. In scholarly discussions it is treated either as an ethnonym for a little-known Italic group or as a toponym cited in inscriptions. Because the evidence is fragmentary and often ambiguous, the exact meaning and historical location of Strigusi remain debated.

Etymology and possible meanings: The form Strigusi is Latinized and ends in -i, which can indicate either a plural or a proper name. Its ultimate origin is uncertain. Some editors have proposed a connection with Latin striga or strix, which relate to owls or witches, while others suggest a pre-Latin substrate element that has not been securely identified. There is no consensus on a definitive semantic interpretation.

Attestations and scholarly debates: The term is attested in a handful of inscriptions from central Italy and in marginal glossaries. In some readings it is interpreted as an ethnonym referring to a distinct community; in others it is treated as a scribal variant of a neighboring name or as a misreading of a different ethnonym. Given the fragmentary nature of the sources and possible manuscript corruption, many identifications remain tentative.

Modern context: Strigusi appears primarily in onomastic and epigraphic studies of ancient Italy. It is not used in contemporary geography or biology, and its relevance is limited to historians of Italy, linguists, and researchers focusing on ancient ethnonyms and inscriptional evidence.

See also: Italic languages, Ethnonyms in ancient Italy, Epigraphy, Strix and striga.