Central Italian people of the Oscan-Umbrian language branch. Most ancient authors derived the name S. from a divine ancestor, Sabus/Sabinus (Safinús in a South Picenian inscription, probably 5th cent. BC; Cato fr. 50; Gellius HRR fr. 10; Hyginus HRR fr. 9; Sil. Pun. 8,420-423). According to Varro (apud Fest. 464; cf. Plin. HN. 3,108), S. was derived from σέβεσθαι/sébesthai, ‘to worship’, because of their alleged piety. The current prevailing opinion is that S. is …
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Vanotti, Gabriella (Novara),
“Sabini”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 21 February 2020 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1026390>