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.History of the Varus Battle
»teutoburgiensis saltus« and the Teutoburg Forest
Tacitus describes the site of the defeat in his annals 1,60 as »haud procul Teutiburgiensi saltu …« which usually is translated with »close to the Teutoburg Forest«. Although, the word »saltus« rather describes a mountain pass. Since the area in question between the upper reaches of the river Lippe, the river Ems and the wooded mountain ranges stretching to the river Weser already had numerous passes in the ancient world, Tacitus’ description is highly unsuitable for finding the battlefield because it is far too vague.
It is important to know that the name »Teutoburg Forest« used nowadays is a recent term. The so-called mountain chain was called Osning until the Middle Ages.