22 Chapter 6.1: The Etruscans: Introduction and Etruscan Tombs

ETRUSCAN INTRODUCTION

Similar to the Minoans of the ancient Aegean the Etruscans had a fascinating culture about which we know too little. Important sources of information on them come from unreliable sources: the Greeks and Romans both of whom despised the Etruscans. The Etruscans lived in Italy as contemporaries to the ancient Greeks. Influenced by Greek art their artistic styles similarly underwent the same phases that occurred in Greece (Orientalizing, Archaic, Classical). They built monumental temples to the gods and buried their dead in lavish tombs. Much of what we know about Etruscan art comes from grave goods.

Artstor Gallery of Etruscan Art for UNO Students

Click this link for a curated gallery of Etruscan art on Artstor.  This link is only available to UNO students. For a refresher on using Artstor, see the UNO Libraries Libguide.

Etruscan Introduction TASK

The videos in this section provide general information about the Etruscans. After watching the videos provide the information that corresponds to the prompts.

The Mysterious Etruscans: Documentary

History of the Etruscan Culture: The First Great Italian Civilization

Etruscan Introduction Task Prompts:

Region and ancient name for it:

Relationship to Villanovans:

Governance and organization:

Source of wealth:

Language and surviving documents or inscriptions:

Style of tombs:

Significance of Regolini-Galassi tomb:

Important burial sites:

Tomb forms:

Primary characteristics of Etruscan society:

Differences between Greeks and Etruscans:

Religious practices:

Fascination with livers???? – just kidding you don’t have to answer this but reading the future from livers was a thing!

ETRUSCAN TOMBS AND DECORATION

The Etruscans buried their dead in areas near their cities that resembled cities themselves and are referred to as necropolises or cities of the dead. Usually belonging to wealthy families some tombs were fashioned to resemble houses or other settings and decorated with relief sculpture or painting and furnished with costly items. Tombs reveal aspects about Etruscan life and their activities as well as their practices and beliefs about the afterlife.

Etruscan Tomb TASK

The videos below examine various tomb paintings and reliefs from different Etruscan necropolises. The two most famous sites for Etruscan tombs are Cerveteri and Tarquinia. The tombs at Cerveteri are largely decorated with relief sculpture whereas those in Tarquinia have painted walls. Among the tombs singled out for study is the Tomb of the Reliefs, the Tomb of the Shields and Chairs, the Tomb of the Leopards and the Tomb of the Triclinium. After watching the videos, please respond to the accompanying questions.

Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia 

Etruscan Necropolises of Tarquinia

Etruscan Tombs 

Art Stories in Rome – Episode 9 – The Tomb of the Reliefs (Necropolis of Banditaccia)

Etruscan Tombs Task Prompts: 

Who were the tombs for?

What form do some of the tombs take? What do they resemble?

What does the tomb form and decoration reveal about their belief in the afterlife?

Of the many tombs discovered in Tarquinia what percentage were painted?

Along with providing for the afterlife, what other purpose did the tomb decoration serve?

In the tomb of the Triclinium discussion (Marsha Russell) what does she say about the form of the tomb paintings?