The Etruscan Civilization - Essay Example

The Etruscan civilization remains mysterious until now since even the Romans wrote almost nothing about their culture (“Columbia Encyclopedia”).

Attitudes about Death
The Etruscans have complex burial ceremonies. This may mean that they had strong beliefs that a part of the soul remained with the body or the body is important for life after death. They also performed cremation and ashes are kept in decorated urns. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

As a sign of the Etruscans’ strong belief about death, they decorated tombs and urns to make them look like huts or houses. By doing this, they believed that the lives of the dead would be prolonged (“Columbia Encyclopedia”).

Aside from this, the Etruscans also used burial ceremonies as a common subject of their paintings and other artworks. Experts observed that banquets are the usual theme in Etruscan art. They think that this may have double meaning since the banquet is a basic part of funerals. The Etruscan funeral ceremonies involved the festive banquet which included the relatives of the deceased. At this banquet, the Etruscans believed that the spirit of the one who died would attend. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

Attitudes about Gender Roles
Unlike most civilizations in ancient times, gender inequality seemed to not have been very notable in the Etruscan culture (Hooker). As a matter of fact, women in Etruria enjoyed a relatively higher status in the Etruscan society as compared to their Greek and Roman counterparts (“Columbia Encyclopedia”).

According to the Greek historian, Theompus of Chios, Etruscan women had the privilege of dining with other men, besides their husbands. They also raise all the babies that are born regardless of who the actual father is. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

The Etruscans’ attitude towards gender roles or the equality of men and women is manifested in their art. For instance, paintings featured lavish receptions wherein both men and women were entertained by musicians and dancers while being waited upon by servants. Other art forms also have both men and women as the main theme like the terra cotta sarcophagus lid figures of a man and woman, husband and wife, enjoying a leisurely moment together. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

“Romanisation” of the Etruscans
Etruria was attacked by Rome beginning 498 BCE and lasted until 264 BCE when Etruria was completely conquered.
Unlike its other conquests, Rome was more considerate of the Etruscans. This may be attributed to the fact that the Roman civilization was substantially influenced by the Etruscan culture as would be discussed in the following section. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

With the entry of the Roman conquerors, the Etruscan language and religion were gradually eroded. The long process of “romanization” wiped the Etruscan culture off the ancient world. (“Mysterious Etruscans”)

Etruscans’ Contribution to the Roman Culture
As emphasized, the Etruscans have greatly influenced the Romans. In terms of art, Etruscan art is mainly comprised of sculpture in clay and metal, fresco tomb painting, and fine pottery exhibiting local elements and reflecting Etruscan religious beliefs (“MSN Encarta”). This type of art was highly influential on Roman Art (“Encyclopedia Britannica”). The Etruscans also inspired renowned artists like Alberto Giacometti with their stretched figure sculptures like the one entitled “Shadow of the Evening” (“The Etruscan Bronzes”).
On the aspect of architecture and engineering, Etruscans built most of their cities in the form of a quadrangle with fortifications and walls supported by double gates and towers. This building method was adopted by the Romans in the construction of the wall surrounding the early city of Rome during the regime of Servius Tullius (“MSN Encarta”).
Various elements of the Etruscan religion were also incorporated into the Roman culture. Such concepts include the cyclic return of the golden age as well as the rite of human sacrifice, which may have led to the rise of gladiatorial games. (“MSN Encarta”)

Other notable contributions of the Etruscans to Romans include the Cloaca Maxima, arts of divination and haruspicy with a complicated set of rituals for foretelling the future, Sibylline books, Lictor rods, chariots, education, and cultural training of Roman youth.  (“Mysterious Etruscans”)