I Piceni

This volume offers a comprehensive compilation of classical literary and epigraphic sources regarding the Picentes, analyzing their ethnogenesis, historical evolution, and socio-cultural identity. Rooted in the sacred spring (ver sacrum) migration tradition from Sabina under the auspices of the woodpecker (picus), the study reconstructs the group's transition from an indigenous Umbro-Sabellic ethnos to an integrated region of Roman Italy (Regio V). Through rigorous source criticism, the text delineates the geographical boundaries of the Picenum—ranging from the Esino to the Aterno rivers—and evaluates their strategic role as an Adriatic bridge connecting Central Italy to the Mediterranean and Cisalpine regions. Historical chapters trace their trajectory from early regional autonomy to key flashpoints, including the Roman conquest, the Hannibalic War, the Social War, and late-republican civil conflicts dominated by the Pompeian dynasty. Furthermore, the work compiles prosopographical data, local prodigies, and economic highlights, providing a critical reference for understanding the ancient Middle-Adriatic civilization.