Tautalus

Tautalus was a chieftain of the Lusitanians, a proto-Celtic tribe from western Hispania. He succeeded Viriathus in the final year of the Lusitanian War.

Biography Tautalus first emerged as a leader following the murder of Viriathus. His participation in the war was brief, and he was noted to lack Viriathus's tactical skills. The Lusitanians were then settled by Decimus Junius Brutus in the colony of Valentia (possibly modern Valença do Minho or Valencia de Alcántara, if not the more geographically distant Valencia).

Etymology The name Tautalus, as transmitted by Appian, is believed to derive from the Celtic and Germanic root teu, meaning "people." However, there are some debate about whether Appian meant it to be Tautalus or Tantalus, as in the Hellenic name Tantalus. Similarly, Diodorus transmits the name as Tautamus or Tantamus.