Unicode Block - Old Italic

Old Italic is a script used across the ancient Italian peninsula, encompassing the Etruscan, Oscan, Umbrian, and other related alphabets that predate the rise of the Latin script. This writing system, derived from a West Greek model, was carved into stone, metal, and pottery for inscriptions ranging from ritual texts to legal documents and personal names. Its letters reflect a right‑to‑left or boustrophedon direction in early examples, though later inscriptions often settled on a consistent left‑to‑right flow. The script’s forms vary regionally but share a common origin, with some characters bearing striking resemblance to Greek letters while others, like the Etruscan “f” (written as 8), are unique innovations. Eventually, Latin replaced these alphabets as Rome expanded, yet the Old Italic scripts preserved a valuable record of pre‑Roman languages and cultural identities, offering scholars a window into the linguistic diversity of early Italy.