The archeological museum in Arezzo is built around a Roman amphitheater. Yes, indeed.
This is just a very poor photo of it. But once you enter, you are taken on an historical tour of the area, from prehistoric caveman stuff, to the development of the sophisticated Etruscan culture, to the infiltration of Greek and Roman cultures.
The Etruscans are so fascinating. Their country, eventually referred to as Etruria (and becomes Toscana), took up a good chunk of the interior of the peninsula. They developed a written language, a complex cosmology, arts like pottery, jewelry and sculpture (largely out of terracotta). They left SO MUCH STUFF and that stuff implies that they enjoyed plenty of wealth and leisure time. Their 'stuff' is so sophisticated as well. So lovely:
Lots of glass vials that held perfume or medicines, gorgeous gold hair pieces and jewelry, interesting little toys carved out of alabaster, tons of oil lamps, mirrors and grooming utensils.
They also had a very clear notion of what happens to you when you die. And they did believe that you can take it with you. Their tombs are carved out of the tuffa (a porous rock), painted with scenes of life and the afterlife, and the individual's remains, either whole or cremated, are placed into sarcophagi with the likeness of the person (in fine form, always) on top:
That church is totally lick-worthy
ReplyDelete