Building Communities in Ancient Samnium: Cult, Ethnicity and Nested Identities

Summary This article addresses the meaning of community in an area of the ancient world that is normally seen to diverge from the paradigm of the C lassical city‐state, by examining the role of sanctuaries in the articulation of identity and belonging. The focus is on S amnium (central I taly) in the last four centuries BC , where archaeological and historical evidence, including a wealth of recent discoveries, supports a dynamic view of a region that is traditionally associated with a cohesive ethnic group. Whilst it is true that the major sanctuary at P ietrabbondante fostered the construction of S amnite ethnic identity, this article highlights the importance of other types and levels of belonging in light of a broader range of cult sites. The concept of ‘nested identities’ (a scenario where individuals identify simultaneously with overlapping groups) can bring about a more nuanced view of how cult was used as a means to negotiate belonging on ethnic and non‐ethnic levels. I hope to show that local communities, and particularly the local elites, were able to function independently rather than simply as the building blocks of the S amnite ethnos.