Old Italic Unicode Script

The Old Italic script, also known as Etruscan script, is a collective term for a variety of related ancient alphabets used in the Italian Peninsula from approximately the 700s BCE to the 100s BCE. This script is most famously associated with the Etruscans, a prominent civilization in what is now modern-day Tuscany, but it was also utilized by other Italic peoples, including the Latins, Umbrians, and Oscans. The Old Italic script is believed to have originated from the Greek alphabet, particularly the Western Greek alphabet used by Greek settlers in Southern Italy. The script features a variety of characters, with some alphabets having as many as 26 letters, adapted by different cultures to suit their linguistic needs and phonetic peculiarities. The characters of the Old Italic script appear angular and are generally inscribed from right to left, though some variations exist.

In Unicode, the Old Italic script is assigned a range from U+10300 to U+1032F, accommodating the diverse set of characters used by these ancient languages. Despite its historical importance, many details about the script, including certain character interpretations, remain a subject of academic research and debate due to the limited and often fragmented nature of archaeological findings. Numerous inscriptions in the Old Italic script have been discovered, primarily on stone, ceramics, and metalwork, providing valuable insights into the history, culture, and social practices of the Italic peoples. Efforts to decipher and standardize the script aid in the broader understanding of ancient European alphabets, allowing scholars to trace the evolution of writing systems and their transmission across the Mediterranean.

Below you will find all the characters that are in the 'Old Italic' unicode script category. Currently there are 39 characters in this category.