Photos of the Very Best Beautiful Etruscan Art & Sites. Etruscan Antiquities from the Great Archaeological Museum of Europe & Etruscan Archaeological Sites. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams
Photos of Ancient Etruscan Museum Art & Antiquities
Themed Ancient Etruscan Museum Antiquity Photo Galleries
Photos of Ancient Etruscan Historic Archaeology Sites
Individual Museum Ancient Etruscan Archaeology Museum Collections
Photos of the Very Best Beautiful Etruscan Art & Sites
Photos of Etruscan Art Antiquities and Etruscan Archaeological Sites.
Who Are the Etruscans?
The Etruscan Civilisation occupied central Italy between the 10th and 1st centuries BC. At their greatest their lands ran from the North Eastern Italian Alps, across the Po Valley to Tuscany then down the western side of the Apennine Mountains to Campania. Their main strongholds were in Tuscany, Lazio & Umbria
The early Kings of Rome were Etruscan, the last being Tarquin. His name is still remembered in the Etruscan town of Tarquinia north of Rome.
Etruscan Cities
The Etruscans built the great cities of Pompeii, Capua and Orvieto. They preferred to build fortified hill top towns as can be seen by the incredible number that still survive in Italy today.
The Etruscans did not build a unified state under one ruler, each Etruscan city was an autonomous city states.
Before the Etruscans were annexed by the Romans they maintaining extensive trade networks throughout the Mediterranean to sell their exquisite artworks.
Ancient Greek Influences on Etruscans
While deeply influenced by Ancient Greeks culture the Etruscans had striking contrasts. They developed a system of roads and invented what we call the Roman arch. The Etruscans had their own system of government, their own myths and legends, and their own cultural attributes. Even so the Etruscans imported and repurposed much from the Ancient Greeks. This in turn they handed onto the Romans.
Etruscan Art Style
Even though Etruscan Artists copied many of the Greek styles of art they still gave their artworks an Etruscan style. Characters depicted in Etruscan art often have thin pointed stylised faces. This can be seen on their incredible sarcophagus covers, some of which depict almost life size couples lying on the lids.
The Etruscans were skilled craftsmen with bronze making extraordinary fine bronze statues such as the “Chimera of Arezzo”.
Etruscans sculptors preferred sculpting in Terracotta rather than stone even though the much prized mines of marble at Carrera was in their territory.
Etruscan Art & Sites
The Etruscan left some fine tombs filled with grave goods. The biggest Necopoli are along the Tuscany & Lazio coast.
Cerveteri is a large Etruscan Necropolis filled with round stone tumuli cut out of the Tuffa rock. Stairs lead down into family burial chambers. Niches are cut into the rock and the bigger tombs have many niches and painted decorations on the walls.
On the edge of Tarquinia at Monterozzi is a necropolis of underground tombs. There are no monuments above ground and steps lead down to underground chambers. The chamber tomb are rectangular with roped roofs. Each tomb has wall painting depicting different scenarios.
A popular theme are scenes that depict an Etruscan Symposium with youths lying on couches being served. The inference of these are that the deceased is enjoying a good time with the gods. The tombs are decorated to look like the inside of houses.
When excavated many of these tombs were full of grave goods. These treasure troves have helped archaeologists unlock the secret art of the Etruscans.
The Etruscans were slowly merged into the Roman Empire. They still kept some of their own identity though and the Romans adopted many of their art styles and culture.