Etruria

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The area covered by the Etruscan civilization.

Etruria — usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia — was a region of Central Italy, located in an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria. A particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is D. H. Lawrence's Sketches of Etruscan Places and other Italian essays.

The ancient people of Etruria are labelled Etruscans, and their complex culture was centered on numerous city-states that rose during the Villanovan period in the ninth century BC and were very powerful during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods. The Etruscans were a dominant culture in Italy by 650 BC, surpassing other ancient Italic peoples such as the Ligurians, and their influence may be seen beyond Etruria's confines in the Po River Valley and Latium, as well as in Campania and through their contact with the Greek colonies in Southern Italy (including Sicily). Indeed, at some Etruscan tombs, such at those of the Tumulus di Montefortini at Comeana (see Carmignano) in Tuscany, physical evidence of trade has been found in the form of grave goods — fine faience ware cups are particularly notable examples. Such trade occurred either directly with Egypt, or through intermediaries such as Greek or Etruscan sailors.

Rome, buffered from Etruria by the Silva Ciminia, the Ciminian Forest, was influenced strongly by the Etruscans, with a series of Etruscan kings ruling at Rome until 509 BC when the last Etruscan king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was removed from power and the Roman Republic was established. The Etruscans are credited with influencing Rome's architecture and ritual practice; it was under the Etruscan kings that important structures such as the Capitolium, Cloaca Maxima and Via Sacra were realized.

The Etruscan civilization was responsible for much of the Greek culture imported into early Republican Rome, including the twelve Olympian gods, the growing of olives and grapes, the Latin alphabet (adapted from the Greek alphabet), and architecture like the arch, sewerage and drainage systems.

The classical name Etruria was revived in the early 19th century, applied to the Kingdom of Etruria, an ephemeral creation of Napoleon I of France in Tuscany which existed from 1801 to 1807.

Cities

Latin name is given between parentheses:

• Arezzo (Arretium)
• Caisra,Cisra (Caere)
• Clevsin (Clusium)
• Curtun (Cortona)
• Felathri (Volaterrae, Volterra])
• Fufluna, Pupluna (Populonium, Populonia)
• Perusia
• Tarchna, Tarchuna ( Volscian Anxur ) (tarracina, terracina)
• Tarchnal (Tarquinia)
• Veii
• Velch (Volci)
• Velzna (Volsiniia)
• Vetulonia,Vatluna (Vetulonium, Vetulonia)

External links

• Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria, by George Dennis, an overview of Etruscan civilisation
• Toponymy of Etruria

v • d • e Etruscan related topics History Founding of Rome · Tyrrhenus · Tyrrhenians · Tarchon · Capys · Lucius Tarquinius Priscus · Tanaquil · Lucius Tarquinius Superbus · Lars Porsena · Servius Tullius · Lars Tolumnius · Caelius Vibenna · Etruscan League · Titus Vestricius Spurinna · Vicus Tuscus · Aruns (son of Tarquinius Superbus) · Raeti · Poppilia Culture Origin · Tages · Vulca · Persius · Titus Larcius · Art · Architecture · Terracotta warriors · Coins · Apollo of Veii · Chimera of Arezzo · Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum · Tomb of the Roaring Lions · Sarcophagus of the Spouses · Jewelry · Society · Religion · Mythology · Mythological figures · Etruscan Sibyl · Haruspex · Liver of Piacenza · Etruscan names for Greek heroes · Fanum Voltumnae · Mezentius · Lausus · Extispicy Warfare 1st Siege of Rome · 2nd Siege of Rome · Battle of Alalia · Battle of Cumae · Capture of Fidenae (435 BC) · Battle of Veii · Battle of Populonia · Battle of Lake Vadimo · Battle of the Cremera Language Tyrsenian languages · Alphabet · English words of Etruscan origin · Spanish words of Etruscan origin · Lemnian language · Rhaetic language · Pyrgi Tablets · Cippus perusinus · Liber Linteus · Corpus Inscriptionum Etruscarum · Tabula Capuana · Tabula Cortonensis Archeology National Etruscan Museum · Monteleone Chariot · Tomb of Orcus · Vicus Tuscus · Negau helmet · Bucchero · Impasto (pottery) · Tumulus of Montefortini · Cuniculi · Portonaccio (Veio) Key sites Etruria · Volsinii · Clusium · Aleria · Caere · Populonia · Perusia · Spina · Norchia · Veii · Fidenae · Falerii · Ceri · Adria · Bologna · Cumae · Pyrgi · Volterra · Acquarossa · Rusellae · Civita di Bagnoregio · Tarquinia · Fescennia · Orvieto · San Giovenale · Tuscana · Tuscania Portal