The Mysterious Etruscans

Meet the Etruscans. Although you may not know much about them, this introduction quickly shows how they served as a conduit between the Greeks and the Romans, influencing much of what we think of as Western civilization. Begin by surveying their world to gain context for this mysterious people.

Although Etruscan cities no longer survive, we can learn much by studying the geography and the foundations of cities that were built over the Etruscan developments. Explore three Etruscan cities to find out how they were designed, and see what urban development tells us about the people and their impact on future civilizations.

Much of Rome's geography, architecture, and artistic inscriptions suggest strong Etruscan influence. After discussing three Etruscan kings who ruled Rome, Professor Tuck reviews the evidence - particularly in some of the city's prominent temples - that Rome was, in fact, largely founded as an Etruscan city.

Step into the Etruscan necropolis - a literal city of the dead - which tells us much about how the culture viewed the afterlife, social class, and more. In this first look at the dead, you'll visit several ancient tombs to find out about how this mysterious people lived - and how their culture changed over time.

Funeral rites are some of the most conservative components of a culture. Because they change so slowly, we can learn much from looking at a society's funerals. Here, examine Etruscan tomb paintings to learn about their religious rituals, from which we can deduce much of their beliefs, cultural priorities, and more.

Round out your study of the Etruscan view of the dead and the afterlife by examining wall paintings. Reflect on some of the key symbols around the transition from the living to the dead - including divers, underworld guides, and kings. Then consider how the Etruscan afterlife compared to Greek beliefs and mythology.