Celtic-speaking groups who settled in central Asia Minor and became important in Hellenistic and Roman politics.
Overview
The Galatians descended from Celtic groups who entered the eastern Mediterranean during the third century BC and established themselves in central Anatolia.
Why It Matters
They served as allies, enemies, and mercenaries within the shifting politics of Asia Minor. Roman commanders encountered them during campaigns connected with the Hellenistic kingdoms.
In Roman Practice
Galatian communities retained distinctive identities while adapting to the political and cultural environment of Anatolia.