The Picentes, also known as Piceni, were an ancient Italic people who inhabited the central Adriatic coast of Italy. Flourishing from the early Iron Age until their eventual conquest by the Roman Republic, the Picentes played a key role in the region's history. Their strategic location fostered interactions with neighboring tribes and burgeoning civilizations.

While the Picentes ultimately fell to the might of the Romans, studying their history sheds light on their unique culture and society. It also enhances our broader comprehension of ancient Italic peoples and their influences on the development of early Rome. Picene Prince’s Tomb Reveals a Chariot and 150 Other 7th Century BC Artifacts Clash of Titans: The Roman-Etruscan Wars of Ancient Italy The Picentes - From the Early Iron Age to Roman Conquest The beginnings of the Picentes civilization can be traced back to the early Iron Age, around the 9th century BC.

They settled in the central Adriatic coast of Italy, mostly in the regions that are known as modern-day Marche and northern Abruzzo today. An ancient italic group, the Picentes shared linguistic and cultural traits with neighboring tribes like the Sabines and Umbrians. Archaeological evidence would suggest that the earliest Picentes first established settlements in the region’s fertile valleys and coastal plains.

One of their first major settlements was Asculum Picenum (modern-day Ascoli Piceno). It’s likely that their first interactions with other tribes cons.