The Etruscans Chapter 6

AP Art History

Instructional Objectives: • Students will be able to examine the ways that Etruscan

funerary art celebrates the vitality of human existence.

• Students will be able to trace the development of portraiture as a major form of artistic expression for the Romans.

• Students will be able to investigate the various ways Romans embellished the walls of their houses with illusionistic painting.

• Students will be able to explore the structural advances made by the Romans in the construction of large civic architecture.

• Students will be able to assess the ways Roman emperors used art and architecture as an arm of imperial propaganda.

Learning Goal:

• Students will be able to identify and explain the rise of the Etruscans in Roman history.

• Students will be able to describe how the Etruscans were influenced by the Greeks and the ancient Near Eastern peoples.

Grading Rubric: • For this lesson, you will be graded using the following rubric:

Points Earned: Explanation:

4 Students can identify at least 5 major ways in which Etruscan art was influenced by the art of Greece and the Near East.

3 Students can identify at least 4 major ways in which Etruscan art was influenced by the art of Greece and the Near East.

2 Students can identify at least 2 major ways in which Etruscan art was influenced by the art of Greece and the Near East.

1 Students can identify at least 1 major ways in which Etruscan art was influenced by the art of Greece and the Near East.

0 Students cannot identify the major ways in which Etruscan art was influenced by the art of Greece and the Near East.

Peopling of Italy: Republic of Farmers

• Legend: Romulus and Remus founded Rome.

• Nursed by a she-wolf

• Founded the city in 753 BCE

• Reality: Indo-European peoples (Villanovans) moved into Italy c. 1500-1000 B.C. (in other words somewhere during the 15th Century BCE).

• Occupied Palatine Hill

• Hilltop communities banded together

• Groups included:

• Latin peoples (from Latium)

• First peoples (15th Cent. BCE)

• Herders and farmers

• Lived north of Rome

• Spoke Latin (Indo European language)

• Agriculture is essential for Rome

• Land was based on wealth

• After 800 B.C. other people groups included:

• Greeks

• Settled in southern Italy

• Gave the Romans the alphabet, sculpture, architecture and literature.

• Etruscans

• Probably related to the Villanovans!

• Impacted Rome’s early development

• After 650 B.C. they will control Rome and Latium

• Turn Rome into a city

• Introduce the idea of dress: the Toga!!!

• Even the Roman Army is modeled after them!!!

• Etruscan art will be influenced by the Greeks and Near Eastern civilization.

Etruscan Architecture

• How did Etruscans influence architecture?

• Patterns of building

• Adopted by Rome

• Etruscan planning:

• Cities were designed on grid plans (think orthogonal)

• Similar to Egypt and Greece!

• Was there a difference from earlier civilizations?

• YES! More regular patterns

• Two main streets

• North/South and East/West

• Cities were divided into quarters

• Business districts were the centers! (sounds familiar!!!)

Philadelphia City Planning design by William Penn

Note that this design has a North/South and East/West Main Street with the business district located in the center of town! Etruscan influence????

• How do we know about this structure?

• House-shaped funerary urns!

• Decorated tombs that resemble homes.

• How were houses designed?

• Central courtyard (atrium) open to the sky

• Cistern for rainwater – used throughout the house.

• What about the city structure?

• Walls with protective gates and towers! (Greek and Near Eastern Influence!)

• Are there any examples today?

• YES! Porta Augusta with a tunnel-like entrance, two towers, and round arch!

Etruscan Temples

• How were Etruscans influenced by the Greeks?

• Incorporation of Greek deities and heroes into their pantheon!

• How are the Etruscans like the Mesopotamians?

• Use of divination to predict the future.

• Beyond these things and burial practice, we know VERY LITTLE!

• Etruscan temple excavations have revealed foundations and ceramic votive models.

• What do we understand about Etruscan temples?

• Built with mud-brick walls

• Columns and entablatures were made of wood or volcanic rock (tufo).

• Volcanic rock would be a good source – hardens when exposed to open air.

• Which architect gives us additional information?

• The Roman architect Vitruvius

• Use of post-and-lintel construction similar to Greece

• Gabel roofs, with bases, column shafts, and capitals (Doric or Ionic influences)

• Entablatures resembled Doric friezes.

• Calls the architecture the “Tuscan Order” (see Roman Architectural Orders reading)

• What shape were Etruscan temples?

• Rectangular – just like the GREEKS!

• Constructed on high platforms

• Temples were placed in urban settings

• How are these different from Greek temples?

• Temples were NOT surrounded on all sides with a stepped stereobate and peristyle colonnade.

• Temples used a single flight of stairs leading to a columned porch on one of the short sides of this rectangular structure.

• Almost even division of building form between porch and interior space.

• Usually divided into three rooms

• Like Greek temples, Etruscan temples were embellished – they impressed people!

• Large terracotta figures would be placed on the temples.

• Apollo (by Vulca)

• Dates to c. 510-500 BCE

• Great example of one of the terracotta figures found on temples.

• Carved figures had to be specifically designed so not to collapse under their own weight.

• This work was originally part of a four-piece set

• One of the labors of Hercules: Apollo and Hercules fight over the sacred deer belonging to Diana.

• Diana and Mercury (the other two pieces of this group) watched.

• Note the use of the Archaic Smile on this work – Greek influence!

• How do we know its not Greek? Compare this piece to the Anavysos Kouros (pg. 116)

Tomb Chambers • How are the Etruscans like the Egyptians?

• Tombs are homes of the dead!

• How do we KNOW this?

• The Etruscan cemetery find of La Banditaccia at Cerveteri

• What is evidenced here?

• Streets were laid out as if in a small town (this is through the grave mounds)

• Tomb chambers were either partially or completely below ground

• Some are hewn in rock (like a rock-cut tomb)

• Some had corbelled vaulted ceilings (Minoans/Mycenaeans)

• Tomb interiors were PAINTED!

• Etruscan painters present a bright, tangible afterlife!

• Feasting, dancing, hunting, fishing, and other leisure activities are evidenced on tomb walls.

• One of the greatest finds is the tomb at Tarquinia (Boys Climbing Rocks and Diving, Tomb of Hunting and Fishing)

• Walls show boys spending the day in the country

• Surrounded by graceful, brightly colored birds

• Everyday activities are portrayed (In this case swimming)

• The afterlife would be seen as pleasurable compared to daily existence.

• Are there other examples? YES!

• Dancers and Diners, Tomb of the Triclinium

• Men and women are enjoying music and dance

• The room reveals colorful geometric decoration

• Stylized trees and birds are also shown here

• Again, a diversion from daily existence

• Tombs were also carved to resemble rooms as seen in Burial Chamber, Tomb of the Reliefs

• Flat ceilings are supported by square posts

• Walls were plastered with stucco (slow drying) and painted

• The stucco allowed the artist to fashion items within the afterlife dwelling

• These items are seen in low relief and are useful/meaningful to the deceased.

Etruscan Tombs Dancers and Diners

Tomb of the Triclinium

Burial Chamber

Tomb of the Reliefs

• Where were remains placed?

• Like Egyptian remains, these were placed in a sarcophagus

• What are these sarcophagi made from?

• Terracotta or carved stone

• Sarcophagus of the Reclining Couple (Cerveteri)

• C. 520 BCE

• A husband and wife are reclining on a dining couch

• The upper bodies are vertical with squared shoulders

• Almost lifelike scene

• Hips and extended legs sink into the couch (seemingly)

• This is NOT a somber memorial

• This couple remains alert with warm smiles – almost greeting the viewer.

• Could they be giving the viewer an invitation to dine with them in eternity?

• Are they inviting the viewer to join them in the lively festival that is presented on the walls of Etruscan tombs?

Reclining Couple on a Sarcophagus (Cerveteri)

• Are there other sarcophagi that offer information about the afterlife?

• YES! The Sarcophagus of Lars Pulena

• The Sarcophagus of Lars Pulena expresses troubles in the afterlife

• This piece was fashioned in Tarquinia in the early 2nd century BCE

• Deceased is again shown in a reclining position – NOT FESTIVE!

• His wife is NOT present as in the Reclining Couple piece

• Lars Pulena’s expression is somber – in total contrast to the Reclining Couple

• This is symptomatic of the economic and political decline of the once-mighty Etruscan state.

• Pulena holds a scroll inscribed with his life accomplishments – dwelling on the past.

• What is represented on the sarcophagus frieze?

• A gloomy assessment of the future!

• The deceased is in the underworld and is being attacked by two Charuns (Etruscan death demons) swinging lethal hammers.

• It is important to note that Lars Pulena does NOT have confidence in a happy afterlife – completely opposite of the Reclining Couple.

Sarcophagus of Lars Pulena

Works in Bronze • Did the Etruscans specialize?

• YES!

• Etruscans were VERY proficient at casting and engraving bronze works.

• For what purpose were these works created?

• Some of the more extraordinary works were created for domestic use (cistae are the best examples of these)

• What are cistae?

• Cylindrical containers used by wealthy women as cases for toiletry items.

• Ficoroni Cista is an exceptional example

• Named for the 18th century owner – originally created in the 4th century BCE

• Commissioned by Dindia Macolnia for her daughter as a wedding gift

• We do know that the artist is Novios Plautios (he signed the work)

• Dionysus is shown between two satyrs at the top of the work – creating the handle: these would be cast separately!

The Ficoroni Cista

• Are there other significant bronzes from this era?

• YES! The Heat of a Man (Brutus) c. 300 BCE and the Arezzo Chimera from the early 4th century BCE.

• The Head of a Man (Brutus)

• This is an example of an important Roman commission of Etruscan bronze casters.

• This work is larger than life and possibly commemorative of a great man

• Could this be part of an older equestrian statue? Maybe – look at the head positioning!

• This work was designed to be extremely lifelike!

• Arezzo Chimera

• This piece was found in 1553 CE and is widely admired in the Renaissance.

• This work represents a monster of Greek invention!

• Lion head and body, a goat head, and a serpent tail

• The work also reveals the wound inflicted by the Greek hero Beller-ophon who slew this beast.

• This work shows a powerful beast – even with an injury.

• In this moment, the Etruscan artist shows this beast ready to attack!

• This piece could have been part of a grouping that included Beller-ophon, or it could stand alone.