oilam trebopala
indi porcom labbo
comaiam iccona loim
inna oilam usseam
trebarune indi taurom
The theonyms (names of gods) appearing in Lusitanian inscriptions are found over a much wider area than actual Lusitanian-language inscriptions themselves are. It is generally agreed that Lusitanian is an Indo-European language (Cólera 2004: 15), but where exactly the language fits in the Indo-European family has been a matter of controversy. It remains unclear whether or not Lusitanian should be classed as a Celtic language or not. Some of the other theories that have been proposed have identified Lusitanian as an Italic language, or as a language belonging to its own, independent branch of the Indo-European language family. The Lusitani or Lusitanians, the local ethnic group after whom the language is named, were prominent figures in ancient history and produced one of the most successful resistance-leaders to the Roman invasions, Viriathus. Lusitania, the ancient name for the land or territory of the Lusitanians, is still today used as a poetic term for Portugal. Interestingly, the Roman author Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.1.13) referred to the presence of ‘Celtiberians’ in Lusitania.
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