The Origins of Zürich...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Z%C3%BCrich

The Roman vicus of Turicum first belonged to the province of Gallia Belgica,
and to Germania superior from AD 90. Following Constantine's reform of the
Empire in 318, the border between the praetorian prefectures of Gaul and
Italy was just east of Turicum crossing the Linth between Lake Zürich and
Walensee. Roman Turicum was not fortified, but there was a small garrison at
the tax-collecting point, set up not exactly on the border, but downstream
of Lake Zürich, where the goods entering Gaul were loaded onto larger ships.

(snip)

The earliest record of the town's name is preserved on a 2nd century
tombstone found in the 18th century on Lindenhof, referring to the Roman
castle as STA(tio) TUR(i)CEN(sis).
The city's patron saints, Felix and Regula according to legend were executed
at the location of the Wasserkirche in 286.

The Alamanni settled in the Swiss plateau from the 5th century, but the
Roman castle persisted into the 7th century. The earliest manuscript mention
of the settlement, as castellum turegum, describes the mission of Columban
in 610. An 8th century list of toponyms from Ravenna mentions Ziurichi.
There is a legendary account of an Alamannic duke Uotila residing on, and
giving his name to, the Üetliberg.





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The earliest inhabitants of the future site of Zurich were the lake
dwellers. The Celtic Helvetians had a settlement on the Lindenhof when they
were succeeded by the Romans,



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Notice that the Romans named an already existing settlement "Turicum"..it is
the Roman's name for it. Notice there is no mention of Lake Turicum, but
rather a Lake Zürich. The words appear to co-exist. Turicum by Lake
Zürich. A Ravenna document mentions Ziurichi. Lake Ziurichi would have
been the actual word already known for Lake Zürich near which Turicum was
located. Tricum by Lake Ziurichi. Ziu in reference to the God Ziu. The iu
morthing into ü. What remains to be determined is the word "richi." What
does it mean?



Heidi




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