13: Etruscan Culture

Tumuli at Cerveteri Tumuli @ Cerveteri also known as Banditaccia necropolis 7th-2nd c. B.C > Tumuli = round, earth-covered mounds > Tomb as a house for the dead. > necropolis is massive > the tombs are monumental, cut in rock and topped by massive tumuli > many feature carvings or paintings on the wall > contains thousands of tombs organized in a city-like plan including streets, small squares, and neighborhoods. >provide the only surviving evidence of Etruscan residential architecture.

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gods are all powerful -etruscans were big on miracles -haruspex: person who would open an animal such as a sheep and read their entail for signs. The liver was believed to be the most revealing. They also had tons of votives which are gifts to the greek gods. Huge quantities of anatomical votives in Etruria.

Etruscan religion

Tarquinia

Italian City > Elaborately painted interior > Hundreds of tombs underground > societies with niches

A major Ancient Greek city on the coast in Magna Grecia in modern day Campania, Italy. Famous for three greek temples in the Doric order dating from 600 - 450 BC. The greek colonists named it Poseidonia then the Romans gave it the name Paestrum. Temples included: 1st Temple of Hera, 2nd Temple of Hera, Temple of Athena

PAESTRUM

a large cemetery belonging to an ancient city.

necropolis

Vocabulary

necropolis cremation inhumation syncretism divination -- Etruscan practice of reading the liver and entrails of dead animals for signs from the gods. Etruscans are big on prophecy and miracles. haruspex -- Etruscan priest who practiced divination Tuscan order -- simplified Doric order antefix tumulus/i necropolis tufa -- limestone-like sarcophagus urn terracotta

the Etruscans were located in modern day Tuscany / Florence / Siena. archaeological evidence includes PYRGI TABLETS. which are gold sheets showing Etruscan script which was derived from greek script. We still don't understand it. new DNA = from eastern turkey many aspects of Etruscan culture seem like they were derived from eastern turkey.

the Etruscans

Portonaccio Temple c.f. vs Temple of Hera at Paestum

♣ Has totally different proportions ♣ Can only enter one way into the Etruscan temple ♣ Columns in the front of the Etruscan temple vs. all the way around at Hera (encourages one to walk around it) ♣ Forms recognizable to both (ex. Medussa) ♣ Sculptures on roof vs. sculptures on the pediment ♣Materials: Etrsucan is wooden roof and columns, stone base, terracotta sculptures.