[1] The Lapis Satricanus is an ancient Latin inscription found in Satricum, a settlement in the region of Latium, dating back to the early 5th century BCE.

Satricum was one of several Latin settlements that played a significant role in the early territorial expansion of Rome and its interactions with neighboring tribes and cities, including the Volsci and the Aequi.

In historic times, this word referred to a member of a sodalitas, a religious fraternity or brotherhood who met for ritual meals or as a burial organization.

"Since the suod- element in suodales is cognate with the English word 'swear'", writes Gary Forsythe, "the term suggests that some kind of oath was taken, binding the members of the group together in a common purpose."

[5] Forsythe notes this puts a new light on the account of the Battle of the Cremera, an event where the entire gens Fabia fought as a group the armed men of the rival town of Veii only to be tragically defeated.

That has led to speculation that the inscription refers to Publius Valerius Publicola, the patrician ally of Lucius Junius Brutus who dominates the list of early consuls recorded by the Fasti Capitolini and is credited, in traditional accounts, as one of the primary founders of the Roman Republic.