SummaryThis article addresses the meaning of community in an area of the ancient world that is normally seen to diverge from the paradigm of theClassical city‐state, by examining the role of sanctuaries in the articulation of identity and belonging. The focus is onSamnium (centralItaly) in the last four centuriesBC, 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 atPietrabbondante fostered the construction ofSamnite 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 theSamnite ethnos.