or Picenum, in Ancient Geography, a territory of Italy, to the south-east of Umbria, reaching from the Apennines to the Adriatic. The people are called Picentes (Cicero, Livy), distinct from the Picentini on the Tuscan Sea, though called by Greek writers Illyrioi. This name is said to be derived from the bird picus, under whose conduct they removed from the Sabines, of whom they were a colony.

AGESILAUS II., king of the Lacedemonians, son of Archidamus II., was raised to the throne in opposition to the superior claim of his nephew Leotychides. Immediately on his accession, he advised the Lacedemonians to anticipate the king of Persia, who was making great preparations for war, and to attack him in his own dominions. He was himself chosen for this expedition, and gained so many advantages over the enemy, that if the league which the Athenians and the Thebans formed against the Lacedemonians had not obliged him to return home, he would have carried his victorious arms into the very heart of the Persian empire. He gave up, however, all these triumphs readily, to come to the succour of his country, which he happily relieved by his victory over the allies in Boeotia. He obtained another near Corinth; but, to his great mortification, the Thebans afterwards gained several over the Lacedemonians. These misfortunes at first raised a clamour against him. He had been sick during the first advantages which the enemy gained; but as soon as he was able to act in person, his valour and prudence prevented the Thebans from reaping the advantages of their victories; so that it was generally believed, had he been in health at the beginning, the Lacedemonians would have sustained no losses, and that without him all would have been lost. It cannot be denied, however, that his fondness for war occasioned many losses to his countrymen, and led them into enterprises which in the end contributed much to weaken their power. He died in the third year of the 103rd Olympiad, being the 84th year of his age and 39th of his reign, and was succeeded by his son Archidamus. Agesilaus would never suffer any picture or sculpture to be made of him, and prohibited it also by his will. This he is supposed to have done from a consciousness of his own deformity; for he was of short stature, and lame of one foot, so that strangers used to despise him at the first sight. Agesilaus was extremely fond of his children, and would often amuse himself by joining in their diversions. One day when he was surprised riding upon a stick with them, he said to a person who had seen him in this posture, "Forbear talking of it till you are a father."