South Picene language
Encyclopedia
South Picene is an extinct Italic language, belonging to the Sabellic subfamily. It is currently considered by SIL International
to belong to the Umbrian Group although in the long history of its attempted classification it has been placed at a higher level, parallel to Oscan and Umbrian within Sabellic, or even higher, parallel to Sabellic within Italic. It is apparently unrelated to the as yet undeciphered North Picene language. South Picene texts were at first relatively inscrutable even though some words were clearly Indo-European
. The discovery in 1983 that two of the apparently redundant punctuation marks were in reality simplified letters led to an incremental improvement in their understanding and a first translation in 1985. Difficulties remain.
does not begin until their subjugation by Rome in the 3rd century, the inscriptions open an earlier window on the culture as far back as the late Roman Kingdom
. Most are stelai
or cippi of sandstone or limestone in whole or fragmentary condition sculpted for funerary contexts but some are monumental statues.
On a typical gravestone is the representation of the face or figure of the deceased with the inscription in a spiral around it or under it reading in a clockwise direction, or boustrophedon
, or vertically. Stones have been found at Ascoli Piceno
, Chieti
, Teramo
, Fano
, Loro Piceno
, Cures
, the Abruzzi between the Tronto
and the Aterno-Pescara, and Casteldieri and Crecchio
south of the Aterno-Pescara. To them are added inscriptions on a bronze bracelet in central Abruzzi and two 4th-century BCE helmets from Bologna
in the Po Valley
and Bari
on the southeast coast.
A complete inventory is as follows: the Cippus of Castignano
(6th-century BCE sandstone pyramid); three stelai of Penna Sant'Andrea
at Teramo
(a whole and two fragmentary limestone obelisk
s of the 1st half of the 5th century BCE); the cover of the Campovalano
pyxis
(7th to 6th centuries BCE); spiral bracelet of Chietino in Valle del Pescara (5th century BCE); the Cippus of Cures
(limestone); the Stele of Loro Piceno
(sandstone); the Stele of Mogliano
(sandstone); the Stele of Acquaviva
; the Stele of Belmonte
(jointed sandstone); the Cippus of Falerone
; the Stele of Servigliano
(sandstone); a fragment of inscribed sandstone at Belmonte
; the Cippus of Sant'Omero
(sandstone); two stelai of Bellante
(sandstone); the Stele of Crecchio
(sandstone); two cippi of Casteldieri (limestone, whole and fragmentary); the Statue of Capestrano
(limestone, life-size representation of king Nevio Pompuledio, 2nd half of the 7th, 1st half of the 6th centuries BCE); the Helmet of Bologna
(bronze); the Helmet of Puglia.
SIL International
SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...
to belong to the Umbrian Group although in the long history of its attempted classification it has been placed at a higher level, parallel to Oscan and Umbrian within Sabellic, or even higher, parallel to Sabellic within Italic. It is apparently unrelated to the as yet undeciphered North Picene language. South Picene texts were at first relatively inscrutable even though some words were clearly Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
. The discovery in 1983 that two of the apparently redundant punctuation marks were in reality simplified letters led to an incremental improvement in their understanding and a first translation in 1985. Difficulties remain.
Corpus
The corpus of South Picene inscriptions consists of 23 engraved items from as early as the 6th century to as late as the 4th century BCE, dated by the features of the writing and the archaeological contexts of some. As the history of the PicentesPicentes
The Picentes or Picentini are Latin exonyms for the people who lived in Picenum in the northern Adriatic coastal plain of ancient Italy. The endonym, if any, and its language are not known for certain....
does not begin until their subjugation by Rome in the 3rd century, the inscriptions open an earlier window on the culture as far back as the late Roman Kingdom
Roman Kingdom
The Roman Kingdom was the period of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a monarchical form of government of the city of Rome and its territories....
. Most are stelai
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
or cippi of sandstone or limestone in whole or fragmentary condition sculpted for funerary contexts but some are monumental statues.
On a typical gravestone is the representation of the face or figure of the deceased with the inscription in a spiral around it or under it reading in a clockwise direction, or boustrophedon
Boustrophedon
Boustrophedon , is a type of bi-directional text, mostly seen in ancient manuscripts and other inscriptions. Every other line of writing is flipped or reversed, with reversed letters. Rather than going left-to-right as in modern English, or right-to-left as in Arabic and Hebrew, alternate lines in...
, or vertically. Stones have been found at Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
, Chieti
Chieti
Chieti is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region...
, Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
, Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, Loro Piceno
Loro Piceno
Loro Piceno is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km south of Ancona and about 15 km south of Macerata on a hill near the Fiastra stream....
, Cures
Cures
Cures, a Sabine town between the left bank of the Tiber and the Via Salaria, about 26 km. from Rome. According to legend, it was from Cures that Titus Tatius led to the Quirinal the Sabine settlers, from whom, after their union with the settlers on the Palatine, the whole Roman people took the...
, the Abruzzi between the Tronto
Tronto
The Tronto is a 115 km-long Italian river that arises at Monte della Laghetta and ends in the Adriatic Sea at Porto d'Ascoli, San Benedetto del Tronto. Anciently the Truentus, it traverses the Lazio, Marche, and Abruzzo regions....
and the Aterno-Pescara, and Casteldieri and Crecchio
Crecchio
Crecchio is a town and comune in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of central Italy.Its main activities are agriculture and tourism, yet small family-run businesses exist.-Geography:...
south of the Aterno-Pescara. To them are added inscriptions on a bronze bracelet in central Abruzzi and two 4th-century BCE helmets from Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in the Po Valley
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
and Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
on the southeast coast.
A complete inventory is as follows: the Cippus of Castignano
Castignano
Castignano is a comune in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Italian region Marche, located about 80 km south of Ancona and about 10 km northeast of Ascoli Piceno...
(6th-century BCE sandstone pyramid); three stelai of Penna Sant'Andrea
Penna Sant'Andrea
Penna Sant'Andrea is a town and comune in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy....
at Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
(a whole and two fragmentary limestone obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
s of the 1st half of the 5th century BCE); the cover of the Campovalano
Campovalano
Campovalano is a frazione in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy....
pyxis
Pyxis
Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for a mariner's compass...
(7th to 6th centuries BCE); spiral bracelet of Chietino in Valle del Pescara (5th century BCE); the Cippus of Cures
Cures
Cures, a Sabine town between the left bank of the Tiber and the Via Salaria, about 26 km. from Rome. According to legend, it was from Cures that Titus Tatius led to the Quirinal the Sabine settlers, from whom, after their union with the settlers on the Palatine, the whole Roman people took the...
(limestone); the Stele of Loro Piceno
Loro Piceno
Loro Piceno is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km south of Ancona and about 15 km south of Macerata on a hill near the Fiastra stream....
(sandstone); the Stele of Mogliano
Mogliano
Mogliano is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km south of Ancona and about 13 km south of Macerata.-External links:*...
(sandstone); the Stele of Acquaviva
Acquaviva
-Places:Italy:*Acquaviva Collecroce, in the province of Campobasso*Acquaviva delle Fonti, in the province of Bari*Acquaviva d'Isernia, in the province of Isernia*Acquaviva Picena, in the province of Ascoli Piceno...
; the Stele of Belmonte
Belmonte
-People and titles:*Prince Belmonte or Princess Belmonte, a Spanish and Italian noble title*Domenico Pignatelli di Belmonte, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church*Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...
(jointed sandstone); the Cippus of Falerone
Falerone
Falerone is a town and comune in province of Fermo, in the Italian region of the Marche, southeast of Urbisaglia.-History:Almost nothing is known of the ancient town except from inscriptions, from which, and from the remains of its buildings, it appears to have been a centre of some importance in...
; the Stele of Servigliano
Servigliano
Servigliano is a comune in the Province of Fermo in the Italian region Marche, located about 60 km south of Ancona and about 25 km north of Ascoli Piceno...
(sandstone); a fragment of inscribed sandstone at Belmonte
Belmonte
-People and titles:*Prince Belmonte or Princess Belmonte, a Spanish and Italian noble title*Domenico Pignatelli di Belmonte, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church*Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...
; the Cippus of Sant'Omero
Sant'Omero
Sant'Omero is a town and comune in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy....
(sandstone); two stelai of Bellante
Bellante
Bellante is a town and comune in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy....
(sandstone); the Stele of Crecchio
Crecchio
Crecchio is a town and comune in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of central Italy.Its main activities are agriculture and tourism, yet small family-run businesses exist.-Geography:...
(sandstone); two cippi of Casteldieri (limestone, whole and fragmentary); the Statue of Capestrano
Capestrano
Capestrano is a comune and small town with 965 inhabitants , in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".-Antiquity:...
(limestone, life-size representation of king Nevio Pompuledio, 2nd half of the 7th, 1st half of the 6th centuries BCE); the Helmet of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
(bronze); the Helmet of Puglia.
Alphabet
The south Picene alphabet, known from the 6th century BCE, is most like the southern Etruscan alphabet in that it usesfor /k/ andfor /g/. It is:
<.> is a reducedand <:> is a reduced <8> used for /f/.
Phonetics
For consonantConsonantIn articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
s South Picene had:
voiceless stops /p/, /t/, /k/ represented by , voiced stops /b/, /d/, /g/ represented by , fricatives /f/, /s/, /h/ represented by liquid Liquid consonantIn phonetics, liquids or liquid consonants are a class of consonants consisting of lateral consonants together with rhotics.-Description:...
s/l/, /r/ represented by nasal Nasal consonantA nasal consonant is a type of consonant produced with a lowered velum in the mouth, allowing air to escape freely through the nose. Examples of nasal consonants in English are and , in words such as nose and mouth.- Definition :...
s/m/, /n/ represented by glides SemivowelIn phonetics and phonology, a semivowel is a sound, such as English or , that is phonetically similar to a vowel sound but functions as the syllable boundary rather than as the nucleus of a syllable.-Classification:.../w/, /i/ represented by
In cases where there is a choice of grapheme the context determines which one applies. For the glides,and were used for word-initial /w/ and <ú> for intervocalic /w/ or in other special contexts. The list above omits special contexts.
Language Sample
Inscription Sp TE 2 on a gravestone from BellanteBellanteBellante is a town and comune in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy....
was studied by a linguist of Indo-EuropeanIndo-EuropeanIndo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
studies, Calvert WatkinsCalvert WatkinsCalvert Watkins is a professor Emeritus of linguistics and the classics at Harvard University and professor-in-residence at UCLA.His doctoral dissertation, Indo-European Origins of the Celtic Verb I...
, as an example of the earliest Italic poetry and as possibly a reflex of a Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-Indo-European languageThe Proto-Indo-European language is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans...
poetic form. In the inscription given below colons are used to separate words; in the original inscription, three vertical dots are used ("the triple interpunct").
- postin : viam : videtas : tetis : tokam : alies : esmen : vepses : vepeten
- "Along the road you see the 'toga' of Titus Alius? buried? in this tomb."
The translation of the questioned items is unclear. For toga Fortson suggests "covering."
Note the alliterationAlliterationIn language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
: viam and videtas; tetis and tokam; alies and esmen; vepses and vepeten. The possibility of this and the other inscriptions being stanzaStanzaIn poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
s of verse (strophes) was considered from the time of their discovery. Watkins called them "the South Picene strophe," which he defines as three lines of seven syllables each, comparing them to a strophe of the Rig Veda containing three lines of eight syllables each. Moreover, each line ends "in a trisyllable." The lines of this inscription are:
- postin viam videtas
- tetis tokam alies
- esmen vepses vepeten
The first line would be syllabified and read:
- po-stin vi-am vi-de-tas