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People often ask me the question: Why would anyone be interested in the ancient Etruscans? There is probably no good answer to that. Perhaps it is the magnificent artwork including fine gold jewellery with the intricate granulation style, or the magnificent bronzes such as the Arringatore or the Chimera of Arezzo, or perhaps it is the enigma of the origins of this people, and their language which was so unlike any other. We are only recently beginning to understand the words of the Ancient Etruscans little by little.
However above all, there is the fact that for too long the Etruscan civilization has been totally ignored in studies of the ancient world. This is totally unjustified given what we now know about this remarkable people.
I am glad to see that the balance is being set right thanks to renewed interest in the Etruscans, and the teachings of a few dedicated academics.
I would like to quote directly an introduction by Professor Graziano Baccolini (reproduced by his kind permission) which I believe summarises quite eloquently the immense contribution made by the Etruscans to Western Society.
