Tarentini

Tarentini is the demonym used to refer to the inhabitants of Taranto, a city in the Apulia region of southern Italy. The term originates from the ancient Greek name for the city, Tarentum, and was employed by classical authors to describe its citizens and their culture. In antiquity, the Tarentini were considered part of the broader Greek diaspora in Magna Graecia, adopting Greek language, art, and religious practices while also integrating indigenous Italic influences.

During the Roman period, Tarentum remained an important urban center and the Tarentini maintained their distinct Greek identity, which is evident in archaeological finds such as bronze statues and inscriptions bearing Greek names. The city suffered a great earthquake in 536 AD, afterwards seeing a gradual decline, but the term Tarentini continued as a regional identifier through the Middle Ages and into the modern era.

In contemporary usage, Tarentini is still applied to residents of Taranto and serves as a cultural marker in local dialects, cuisine, and folklore. Taranto is famous for its seafood, particularly branzino and octopus, and the Tarentini community has contributed to the popularization of these culinary traditions. Additionally, the term is occasionally seen in the titles of local newspapers, literary works, and sports clubs, reinforcing a sense of communal identity rooted in the city’s ancient heritage.