Mobility Set in Stone: The Frentrani of Lilybaeum and Mediterranean Connectivity

An inscription erected by some cives Frentrani resident in Sicily stands out among other attestations of Italians overseas due to its unusual self-presentation, placing these individuals in a potentially ambiguous relationship with Rome. These Frentranian citizens may have fled Sulla’s anti-Samnite retaliation in the late 80s BCE, or, if the inscription were earlier, it could reflect a long-standing presence of some Italian immigrants in Sicily, later fuelling the short-lived resistance of the region against Sulla. Regardless of its precise dating, this document suggests that the connectivity between Italy and Sicily extended beyond economic ties, facilitating various forms of mobility.