Grovii facts for kids

The Grovii (sometimes called Gravii) were an ancient tribe who lived a very long time ago. They made their home in the low valley of the Minho River, which is now on the border between Portugal and Spain. They also lived along the coast of northern Portugal, near rivers like the Ave, Cávado, Neiva, and Limia. This whole area was known as Gallaecia in ancient times.

Where Did the Grovii Come From?

Ancient writers had different ideas about the Grovii's origins. A Roman writer named Pomponius Mela believed that most of the people living along the coast of Gallaecia were Celtic. Celts were a large group of people who shared similar languages and cultures across Europe. However, Mela thought the Grovii were different and not Celtic. Another Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, wrote that the Grovii might have come from Greece. More recently, a modern expert named E.R. Luján studied the names used by the Grovii, like names of people and places. He couldn't find strong proof that they were definitely not Celtic. In fact, some of their names could have been Celtic. So, their exact origin is still a bit of a mystery!

Where Did They Live?

The main town for the Grovii was called Tude. Today, this place is known as Tui, Pontevedra, a town in Spain right on the border with Portugal, along the Minho River. There were also other ancient towns, called oppida, that might have been near the Grovii's lands. These towns were named Avobriga and Lambriaca, but their exact locations are not known today.

See also

• Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula