Introduction
Hey there, my name is Alana Segi and welcome to another episode of ‘Death and the Afterlife through the Ages.’ In this episode, we’ll be investigating the ancient civilization known as the Etruscans. You might be asking yourself right now, who are the Etruscans? I’ve never heard of them before… and that's okay because most people haven't. The Etruscans are a civilization shrouded in a smokescreen of mystery that only recently historians have been able to interpret. Before the rise of mighty Romans like Julius Caesar, Commodious, Spartacus and Rome itself, it was the Etruscans who dominated ancient Italy. They dominated Italy from the 8th century BCE to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The Etruscans were the predecessors of Rome. Most of what we know of this mysterious civilization is due to the analysis of the last remnants these people left; tombs. “Death is one of life’s inevitabilities, but the traditions around it are not, thanks to the influence of culture and religion on the rituals we call on when a person dies…” (Heath, 2016) For the Etruscans, the traditions concerning death were heavily influenced by their culture and religion. So, join me as we dive deeper into the Etruscan attitudes to death and just what their funerary and burial practices entailed.
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The Etruscans were, like most ancient civilizations, dedicated to their religious beliefs. Titus Livius Patavinus – better known as Livy – was a Roman historian who described the Etruscans as, “… a nation devoted beyond all others to religious rites…” (Cartwright, 2017) Although living from 59BC to 17AD, almost 400 years after Rome had gained control over ancient Italy by defeating their predecessors, Livy’s account can be recognised as a reliable primary source. This is supported by the fact that Etruscan religious rites were still highly respected and trusted by the Romans, even after the attempted eradication of all Etruscan ties to Rome. (Whelan, 2018) According to the Ancient History Encyclopaedia – a reliable and comprehensive resource for ancient history – soothsayers and diviners of Etruscan descendent were acknowledged experts in the dealings of fate. (Cartwright, 2017) In the ancient world, where they didn’t have access to the scientific knowledge we have today which explained the occurrence of natural phenomenon, divination was prevalent and very much accredited. As Livy stated, the Etruscans were greatly devoted to their religious beliefs; so much so that it was an obsession. An obsession which ultimately lead the Etruscan people into their preoccupation with death; inspiring their intricate funerary practices. (Kozlowski, 2018) Like the ancient Egyptians, the Etruscans believed death was merely a journey to the afterlife. (Hadzi-Andonov, 2000) Although, in Etruscan religion, if the dead were not sufficiently satisfied, they would become vengeful and haunt the living. So, what did the Etruscans do to prevent this? They constructed their tombs with meticulous care, solidity, and extravagance; which is proven through the examination of the elaborate Etruscan tombs which have survived. They also gave frequent offerings to the dead. This way, the dead would take pleasure in their last resting place and enjoy the afterlife rather than haunt the living. (Kozlowski, 2018) Religious beliefs were the same for all Etruscan people; though the same cannot be said about their burial practices.
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The burial practices and methods differed within every city-state in Etruria. Cremation was a general preference for the Etruscan people before inhumation – the burial of bodies – grew in popularity. (Cartwright, 2017) When a body was cremated, the ashes of the deceased would be placed in either metal or pottery urns. These runs would then be elaborately carved. An example of this practice is the ‘Cinerary Urn’ which was found in the Chiusi region of Etruscan Italy. This urn is elaborately carved depicting the story of two brothers in their battle to rule Thebes; on the lid is the sculpted representation of the deceased which is an unbearded man holding an offering bowl. (Indiana, 2014) The artistry on the urn is clearly precise and was most likely accomplished with meticulous care. This ties into the Etruscan belief which aims to satisfy their dead with lavishness. Another method of burying their dead was inhumation. The deceased body would be wrapped in linen cloth before being placed in a terracotta sarcophagus. Like the urn, the sarcophagus would also be elaborately carved. (Sheldon, 2010) The Sarcophagus of the Spouses was found at Cerveteri, Italy and possesses a realistic sculpture of a man and woman lovingly reclining on each other with tender smiles on their face. So, what can we draw from these two examples? It’s that art played a big role in the burial practices. It seemed that for the Etruscans, the more elaborate the artistry was, the more likely it was that the dead would be pleased and not haunt the living; further emphasising the heavy influence religion had on the Etruscan burial methods. Regardless of the burial method used, the remains were placed underground and inside tombs.
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Etruscan tombs were constructed and decorated in a particular way which imitated domestic life for an Etruscan person living in that time. Natasha Sheldon – a writer and researcher who specializes in ancient history – highlighted the process the Etruscans took in constructing their intricate tombs. She states, “… [Tombs were] carved out of natural bedrock or else built from blocks of tufa…” (Sheldon, 2010) An implication can be made here, that Etruscans were an innovative people who were able to create tools to cut rock and they were good engineers in being able to complete these tasks. The tombs were marked by large tumuli – an ancient burial mound or barrow. A prime example of this practice can be seen at the tombs of Cerveteri at Caere. Moving to the interior of the tomb, Sheldon continues, “…tombs were often designed to replicate household features…” (Sheldon, 2010) Again, the tombs of Cerveteri can validate Sheldon’s statement. The walls of the Cerveteri tombs are adorned with sculptures of household tools that would have been used at the time. Not only that but also the ceiling is designed to imitate that of a ceiling of an Etruscan home at the time as well. The fact that the Etruscans designed their tombs to look this way supports the belief that life continues after death. This is known by the way they incorporated the same domestic atmosphere of everyday life into their tombs. Apart from household tools adorning the walls of tombs, there was also bright and colourful frescoes. Frescoes were used to represent the way the deceased wanted to live in the afterlife and were often highlighted the enjoyment of life. (Honeycutt, 2015) Frescoes were also known to portray life itself for an Etruscan person. Though, according to the Ancient Encyclopedia, only 2% of tombs were painted. (Cartwright, 2017) From this information, it is to be noted that the tomb paintings found may only be a representation of the rich or high-class Etruscans. The tombs and its contents were very much influenced by Etruscan culture; particularly domestic culture.