The Mysterious Etruscans

The Romans: Chapter 1 Case Study

Etruscan Roman Italy

‘Etruscan civilization map’ by NormanEinstein, based on a map from the National Geographic Magazine Vol.173 No.6, June 1988. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Etruscan_civilization_map.png#mediaviewer/File:Etruscan_civilization_map.png

Etruscan hilltop cities:Bagnoregio (in Lazio) was built atop a steep hill, even

today the only access is on an arched footbridge

‘Civita di Bagnoregio’. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Civita_di_Bagnoregio.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Civita_di_Bagnoregio.jpg

What did the Etruscan kings do for Rome?

The Regia wasan Etruscan-style palace, built instone

The Vicus Tuscus =Etruscan section of town.It ran from the Regia to the Forum Boarium.

Site of the Lapis Niger andfirst paving of Rome

Rome’s first sewer

‘Platner-forum-republic-96 recontructed color’ by Original diagram by Samuel Ball Platner, scan by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D., alterations by Mark James Miller – http://catholic-resources.org/AncientRome/. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Platner-forum-republic-96_recontructed_color.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Platner-forum-republic-96 _reconstructed _color.jpg

Triumphing, Etruscan style:6th century BC Etruscan chariot

Monteleone Chariotfound in Perugiac. 530 BC.Now in the Met,New York.

"Etruscan chariot wheel" by Unknown. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Etruscan_chariot_wheel.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Etruscan_chariot_wheel.jpg

Etruscan bucchero: black pottery

‘Oichoneo in bucchero etruria meridionale, fine VII, inizio VI secolo ac.’ by sailko. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki File:Oichoneo_in_bucchero_etruria_meridionale,_fine_VII,_inizio_VI_secolo_ac..JPG#mediaviewer/File:Oichoneo_in_bucchero_etruria_meridionale,_fine_VII,_inizio_VI_secolo_ac..JPG

‘Museo archeologico di Firenze, Oinochoe con testa di toro, Chiusi prima metà del VI sec. a.c. 1’. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Museo_archeologico_di_Firenze,_Oinochoe_con_testa_di_toro,_Chiusi_prima_met%C3%A0_del_VI_sec._a.c._1.JPG#mediaviewer/

Late 7th/early 6th C. BCwine jug: note thecurved lip forpouring.

Bull’s head wine jug, mid 6th C. BC, with decorated edges. It looks almost like anEgyptian canopic jar.

The Liver of Piacenza

Selva: Silvanus

Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies IMAGO database.

‘Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximusvowed in 509 BC at the top of the Capitoline Hill

Unlike Greek temples, whichwere designed symmetricallyfor a single god, this Etruscan temple held three gods in a clearhierarchy: Jupiter in the centre,Juno and Minerva on the sides. Note the large porch forobserving auguries.

http://cthulhu.us/scenarios/cryptaromana/temple_jupiter.cfm

Tomb of the Triclinium, Monterozzi Necropolis in Tarquinia (c. 470 BC)

The whole room is ornately painted (left)with a band of diners depicted on the back wall and intricate dancing scenes (see below) on the left in dramatic, almost ecstastic postures (gettin’ jiggy with it).

This ‘close up’ scene from the corner of theleft wall represents a different portrayal of gender in the dancers, with a tanned, bare-chested male about to take hands with a light-skinned, ornately dressed woman. The dancers touch but do not make eye contact.

‘Etruskischer Meister 002’ by Unknown - The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. Licensed under public domain via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Etruskischer_Meister_002.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Etruskischer_Meister_002.jpg

Sarcophagus of the Spouses now in the Louvre (early 6th C. BC)

Gender stereotypes are colourfully presented: the husband is depicted with tanned skin, blond hair and a dark beard, while his wife has lighter skin, dark hair and a decorated tunic. Her right arm is angled towards his left arm and in front of them is skin for wine. What were they holding? Cups? Oils? Perfume?The figures were modelled separately thenplaced together.