FALISCI

ancient people of southern Etruria in Italy who, though Latin in nationality and speech, were culturally closer to the Etruscans. They occupied the region between the Tiber River and Mt. Ciminus, with Falerii (modern Civita Castellana) as their capital. Resistance of the Falisci to Rome began in 437 BC, when they joined with Veii in the Etruscan alliance against the common enemy and ended with the razing of Falerii by the Romans in 241 BC. Objects in early Faliscan graves are indistinguishable from early Etruscan objects. See also Faliscan language.