CLASSIC 20 Lecture 5: 10.5.15 The Secret of Etruscans - Prof Gurval
Document Summary
Cultural history of the etruscans: five periods: villanovan civilization (ca. Urbanization - in an italy of villages etruria alone had towns city walls, gates, temples, sewers, central markets. Rome was in many ways an etruscan city. Ancient etruria - main settlements included area north from tiber river and rome south of arno river and florence (firenze) Landscape of etruria is easily romanticized richest areas. Geography - abundant resources of food, water, building materials, precious metals, natural boundaries of mountains and seas. Many volcanic activity historically make the land fertile (volcanic tufo rock) Masters of hydraulics devised many waterways, removing marshland, drainage system, sewer biggest is cloaca maxima (great sewer of rome) Names of etruscans in antiquity - greek tyrsenoi (see outline) Marauders or pirates (tyrrhenoi) capture of god dionysus, transformation into dolphins. Hesiod"s theogony & herodotus both reference tyrsenos , associated to the etruscans. Livy brings a brief account of the alpine raetians saying they came from the north.
