Who Were the Etruscans?

Long before the Romans, the Etruscans inhabited Tuscany. The rolling hills, green valleys, and gray tufa cliffs were their homes as long as time can tell us; in fact, there is no record that the Etruscans came from anywhere else. Their unique language and religion seem to tell us that they simply always lived in this area.

The Etruscan's cellars and tombs, carved in the soft volcanic rock, remain to tell us their story. We know that they had a taste for Greek pottery, made food offerings to their gods, and they had a sacred scripture, although we still do not have the means to translate their writings. In a country that has attracted archaeologists worldwide, the Etruscans still largely remain a mystery.  

Early literature is not much help for clarification. We are presented with diverse accounts that range from the superiority of conquering Romans, to fanciful myths that tie the people into both Greek and biblical tales. Dante Alighieri particularly disliked Etruscans. The historian Strabo is neutral, while writer Giovanni Cipriani of the 14th century lauded their glorious legacy.

Much of the wild variation in bias towards the Etruscans is a result of an ongoing rivalry with nearby Florence. In addition, the Etrsucans were a democratic and egalitarian people; women participated fully in social and trade life, and there was a democratic system of government.When the Medici family came to power, these ideas of the rule of the people did not sit well with them and they did their best to suppress the notion that the Etrsucans founded the area's culture.

So, this intriguing people has been spoken about by many both negatively and positively; the one thing that is clear is that they influenced everyone around them, whether for good or ill.

Below is a picture of pottery found at a brand new archeological site that was beneath our hotel in Orvieto (Tuscany). These pieces, which are a range of ages, have left a record of art and life in Tuscany.

Photo by Clara Mastin