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I
Piceni
It
is not by chance that Le Marches are the only region in Italy to have a
name in the plural, as to underline the different historic and local
vocations which characterized the towns of the region. To grasp a common
cultural identity that may unify the many realities of this charming
region, it is necessary to look at the prosperous ancient civilization of
the Piceni.
The
Piceni lived in Le Marches’ territory (and in part of the Abruzzi)
between the 9the and the 3rd centuries B.C. Their origins are
still unknown; Sabines or Illyrians, it seems they were called Piceni
because of the woodpecker – a bird sacred to Mars – that towered over
their emblem.
Starting
from the 4th century B.C. Greek and Latin authors such as
Pliny, Strabone and Livy celebrated the deeds of these strong warriors and
the goodness of their fertile land. It is thanks to the strategic location
that the Piceni could easily establish relations with the major
neighbouring populations of those times (Etruscans, Umbri, and Smnites),
thus contributing to trade on the amber route. Along with ivory,
iron, bronze, gold, silver, ceramic and glass paste, amber was skillfully
worked by the Piceni, to create the numerous finds that were discovered in
the Marches.
The
objects created by this population remained concealed in necropolises for
centuries, between the rivers Foglia and the town of Pescara, and are now
visible in museums. They bear witness to an aristocratic and warlike
society, proud of its own strength and growing wealth.
It
is possible to imagine the Piceni engaged in their main activities, such
as cattle breeding, farming, metallurgy and trade, but also struggling in
wars. The objects found in their graves reflect the power and the
importance of people, buried with the objects of everyday use, jewels,
weapons, and even carts.
The burial sites also bear witness to the decay of this population,
stamped on by the power of the Greek town of Ancona and by the gradual
expansion of the Senoni Gauls in the central-northern Piceno area.
Ancona was founded in the 4th century B.C. by settlers from
Syracuse.
The Marches regional authorities (in collaboration with the Abruzzi
regional authorities) has recently promoted a programme of initiatives
aimed at knowing and enhancing the Piceni civilization and its rich
cultural and historic heritage. A series of museums started to display
many extraordinary and valuable objects collected all over the regional
territory. A wonderful itinerary was organized, through which the places
of the Piceni are revelaed to visitors in all their splendour.
The Piceni in Le
Marches’ museums
The
series of museums is composed of two main centres:
·
The Archaeological Museum of Le Marches in Ancona;
·
The State Archaeological Museum in Ascoli Piceno.
A series of 21 museums
completes this network, which – in the name of the proud Piceno people -
organizes, recovers and unifies a precious cultural heritage that has
hitherto been lost.
© 2001 Liberation Ventures Ltd.
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