Μαιαται
Attested: Cassius Dio 77,12 via Xiphilinus Μαιαται; Dio via Jordanes Meatae
Where: A troublesome tribal confederation north of the Antonine Wall.
Name origin: Roman Maia, from Greek μαια ‘good mother, foster mother’ was the mythological goddess of nurturing, possibly similar to other ancient deities such as the Matrones and Rosmerta. The –αται ending was essentially the same as -atians in modern names of peoples. See Dunbavin (2025) for classical writers' comments on the communal childcare practices of ancient British societies.
Notes: Watson (1926:56-9) summarized ancient authors' accounts of the Μαιαται and mentioned several place names that may preserve the name. The Romans worried about the demographic threat from the Scoti, Picti, and Calidoni and other barbarae quae pullulaverunt sub imperatoribus, as the Verona List of AD 314 put it, who were not necessarily politically unified but reproduced strongly during the climatically good years of the Roman era. Note the ancient Maeotians around the Sea of Azov, entered through the narrow Kerch Strait, with the sense of ‘waving, signalling’ suggested for Maia.
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Last edited 8 April 2025 to main Menu