The Etruscans

900 BCE-89 BCE

Background
People who lived in Italy before the
Romans
Central area of Italy known as Etruria
(modern day Tuscany)
Absorbed into Roman Empire 89 BCE

 Love of life

Culture

Banquets, sports, festivals

Women = men
Sailors, Metalworkers, International traders
Exported iron, tin, copper, silver.

Strong belief in afterlife

Sculpture

Terracotta and bronze

Influence of Greek Archaic art.

DifferencesNudity scarce, figures move
dynamically in space, aware of the world around
them, brilliantly painted.
Both cultures emphasize broad shoulders of
men and stylization of the hair.

Paintings
Funerary paintings done on the walls and
ceilings of tombs.
Brightly painted frescoes reveal a world of
cheerful Etruscans celebrating, dancing,
eating, and playing musical instruments.

Architecture
Temples and Tombs
Archaic Greek prostyle temples inspired large
scale architecture.
Temple foundations reveal influence
Tombs were unusual-inside a necropolis. Cities
of the dead. Burial mounds. Provides most info
about Etruscan Culture

Model of an Etruscan Temple,

Etruscan

 Temples on a high podium, with a flight of

stairs leading up to the entrance.
Made of mud-brick and wood; roofs were
tiled
Decorative sculpture atop the roofs made of
terra cotta- to announce the presence of
the diety within.

 Had a front porch

Side walls are solid
Temples had three cellas-one for each of
their chief gods

Plan of an Etruscan Temple

Temple of Minerva at Veii

Compare Temple Styles

Etruscan Temple
Three cellas
Made of mud and
brick
Deep porch/one
entrance
Decorated rooftops

Greek Temple
One cella
Made of marble
Viewed from all
sides/steps on all
sides
Sculptural decoration
on frieze and
pediment

Apollo from Veii

 Temple roof sculpture

Archaic Greek influenced

Similarities- Archaic smile, stylized hair,

flat surface patterns of the drapery folds.

 Differences Clothed
made of terra cotta instead of marble
placed atop the temple roof
appeared in motion
huge drapery folds (remind us of the
kore figures)
animated hands

Sarcophagus of the Spouses

from Ceveteri

 Terra-cotta coffin of a married couple, whose

ashes were placed inside
Husband and wife sharing the same
banqueting couch is uniquely Etruscan.
They have long, stylized hair and gaze into
eternity

 Contented archaic smiles

Figures stop abruptly at the waist Great
concentration on the upper body; less on
the legs.
Unrealistic L-turn of legs

 Both once held objects in their handsperhaps an egg to symbolize life after
death
Animated hand gestures.
Symbiotic relationship: man has a
protective gesture around the woman; the
woman feeds the man; reflects the high
standing women had in Etruscan society.

Banditaccia Necropolis

City of the Dead

Multi-tomb complex set away from cities
Orderly layout with streets
Each tomb Round w/door
Painted and furnished inside to look like house
interior
Carved from tufa-soft volcanic rock
Topped with tumulus-earthen burial mound
Often held entire families, including servants

Decorative tomb paintings

Tomb of the Triclinium

 Named after a triclinium

Banqueting couples reclining while eating
Ancient convention of men painted in darker
colors than women
Dancing figures, musical instruments in
festive celebration of the dead