Picene

Picene refers primarily to an ancient Italic language and culture that flourished in the Adriatic region of Italy during the first millennium BCE. Specifically, the term can refer to the following:

• Picene Language: An extinct Italic language spoken in the ancient region of Picenum. There are two varieties identified: North Picene, known from a small number of inscriptions, and South Picene, known from a larger corpus of inscriptions in an alphabet derived from Etruscan. The linguistic relationship of Picene within the Italic family is debated; it shows affinities with both Umbrian-Sabellic languages and Latin-Faliscan languages. North Picene is so poorly understood that some scholars question its Italic affiliation.

• Piceni (People): The people who inhabited Picenum, corresponding roughly to the modern Marche and northern Abruzzo regions of Italy. They were Italic people who spoke the Picene language(s). They are known for their distinctive material culture, including warrior burials with elaborate grave goods. They were incorporated into the Roman Republic in the 3rd century BCE.

• Picenum: The geographical region inhabited by the Piceni. It was bounded by the Apennine Mountains to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the east, and roughly by the rivers Aesis (Esino) to the north and Matrinus (Piomba) to the south. This area corresponds roughly to modern Marche and the northern part of Abruzzo in Italy. After Roman conquest, it became a Roman administrative region.