"The architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory." 
      -Vitruvius, 1st century ce, The 10 Books on Architecture, Preface, section 3

​Student Resources

Key Ideas
Homework Assignment
Study Guide
* YouTube: Sarcophagus of the Spouses
* YouTube: The Capitoline Wolf
Differences between Etruscan and Greek Temples
Ancient Etruria by Vision Films (video)
Vitruvius's writings on the Etruscan temple
Powerpoint
Artworks list
​Vocabulary
Flashcard Images
​

SMART HISTORY: ANCIENT ETRURIA

Key Ideas

• From the Tuscany area of Northern Italy before the Romans. Once the Romans gained significant power, the Etruscans were assimilated into the Roman Empire and eventually given Roman citizenship. 
• Influenced by the Archaic time period of the Greeks but avoid nudity.
• What we know of the Etruscans is from their tombs (tumuli) which are part of larger necropoli. 
• Tumuli are round structures with a door leading to an interior that is brightly painted to reflect a domestic space.
• Death is focused on the celebration of life. 
• Literary tradition is mostly lost. Vitruvius, an ancient historian wrote about the Etruscans' history.
• Temples are built of mud brick and stone, unlike the Greeks.
• Sculptures are created out of terra-cotta, stucco, and bronze.
• Fun Fact! "It was an Etruscan custom for the king to be preceded by a lictor [(an officer attending the consul or other magistrate)], who carried an axe held together by a bundle of rods. Thus the symbols of royal power apparently came to Rome from Etruria and were mostly related to political authority (crown, throne, sceptre, and fasces.)" From The Etruscans: A new investigation by Mauro Cristofani)

The capitoline wolf (Eng) from ArsTua_Art & Travel Technologies on Vimeo.

Major Differences of 
Greek and Etruscan Temples

Greek
•stone, marble
•stylobate
•fluting, no base on Doric, surrounded structure
•stone-gable roof
•one cella, house deity
•pedimental sculptures, caryatids, metopes
•house statues of Gods for worship, sculptural mass – perfect harmony, unified 

Etruscan
•wood, mudbrick
•podium with staircase leading to entrance
•widely spread, in the front to distinguish front and back and created porch
•roof statues on raking cornice, narrative
•3 cellas for Tunia, Uni, Menrva
•shelters the gods, about the structure 

Artwork List

Temple of Minerva
Tomb of the Triclinium (Tomb of the Leopards)
Sarcophagus of the Spouses
Apollo from Veii
Capitoline Wolf
The Orator

Vocabulary

Necropolis
Stucco
Terracotta
Triclinium
Tufa
Tumulus (pl. tumuli)
Tuscan Order

Flashcard Images