The Etruscans were the people, the culture and civilization, that lived on the Italian peninsula and thrived from around 700-300 B.C.E. And when I say thrived, I mean created a social structure, an aesthetic, a fascinating cosmology, a life that suggests quite a bit of leisure time and attention to health and beauty. And, unlike the Greeks and Romans, women were independent, valued, respected, and their contributions to society were unmatched. It was almost matriarchal. There is a lot to learn about this civilization and every time I visit a museum I vow to read more about them.
Most of the material culture left behind is found in their tombs. Like the Egyptians, they prepared the body for what they believed to be a journey to a new world. The Etruscans cremated their dead, put the ashes and bones in canopic jars, and then, along with many household items, food, wine, favorite things, were put in an underground tomb:
The canopic jars were ceramic, with interesting decorations. It used to be thought that the head lid was meant to resemble the person inside. But now, they think it's just a reminder of a human form.
The practice of making canopic jars was prevalent in this area, which is Chianciano, which is where the museum is that we visited. In other areas, travertine and alabaster were used to create urns that featured the deceased lounging at a party... which is what they thought the afterlife was all about!
Another interesting thing that was found in this area is a set up for wine making. A press, a filter, a spigot.... and... hundreds of grape seeds that had calcified (in the little tube):
This varietal, I forgot which one, is still being grown in this area!
Lastly, check out this Etruscan sculpture: woman, seated on a throne, with a baby in her lap. It's the pieta!
We rode the bus back to Montepulciano. As I was walking up the hill, I decided to try a small pizzeria that I have been curious about. Here's the T:
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