Riga Lines

riga f (plural righe)

1. line
2. stripe
3. parting (of hair)
4. ruler (measuring device)

   Synonym: righello

From Old Italian riga, from Lombardic rīga (“line, row”), from Proto-Germanic *rīgǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *(e)reik- (-kh-) (“to scratch, cut”). Akin to Old High German rīga (“line”) 

The river Daugava has been a trade route since antiquity, part of the Vikings' Dvina*-Dnieper navigation route to Byzantium.^[21] A sheltered natural harbour 15 km (9.3 mi) upriver from the mouth of the Daugava — the site of today's Riga — has been recorded, as Duna Urbs, as early as the 2nd century.^[21] It was settled by the Livs, an ancient Finnic tribe.^[18]

Riga began to develop as a centre of Viking trade during the early Middle Ages.^[21] Riga's inhabitants occupied themselves mainly with fishing, animal husbandry, and trading, later developing crafts (in bone, wood, amber, and iron).^[21]

The Livonian Chronicle of Henry testifies to Riga having long been a trading centre by the 12th century, referring to it as portus antiquus (ancient port), and describes dwellings and warehouses used to store mostly flax, and hides.^[21] German traders began visiting Riga, establishing a nearby outpost in 1158.

Riga Lines

* Dvina