Messapii
(Μεσσαπιοί). A name given to the early inhabitants of southeastern Italy, often regarded as the earliest historical inhabitants of the peninsula. They are the same as the Iapyges or Iapygii, and are also loosely described as Pencetii, Dauni, Bruttii, Sallentini, Paediculi, etc. They perhaps represent an early migration from Hellas into Italy, though the remains of their language contained in a comparatively few inscriptions show that they were not Greeks proper. Scholars generally hold them to have been of the same stock as the Illyrians (Albanians). Their inscriptions have not been deciphered. The most noticeable features of their language appear to have been the genitive endings -aihi and -ihi (Skt. -asya, Gk. -οιο), the use of the aspirated consonants, and the avoidance of final m and t. See Mommsen, Hist. of Rome, i. pp. 31-33 (Amer. ed.); id. Unteritalische Dialekte (1<*>50); Nissen, Italische Landeskunde, vol. i. (1883); Deecke in the Rheinisches Museum, vols. xxxvi., xxxviii., and xl.; and the articles Indo-European Languages; Italia.
- Paus. 10.10.6
- said to be of Cretan origin: Hdt. 7.170