Minerva, Apollo, Etruscan Art Flashcards
Etruscan Worship
During their earlier times, the Etruscans did not worship Gods and Godesses like the Greeks in monumental temples. Rather, they built small temples in groves and other enclosed areas.
How and why did Etruscan worship change?
Around 600 BCE, the desire to create monumental temples for Gods spread throughout the Etruscan lands, most likely due to Greek influence.
Lost and Remaining Temples
Greek temples were made of marble and stone so they last to this day, but most of the Etruscan ones vanished over time because they were built wih mud-brick and terracotta.
Archeological Evidence
One of the best explored temples is the Portonaccio Temple at Veii. The temple’s tufa-block foundations still remain and the floor ratio is 5:6.
Typical Etruscan Temple Plan
The temples are divided into roughly two parts: a deep front porch with columns and a back portion divided into three seperate rooms. Known as a triple cella, the temple at Veii is believed to have single rooms for Minerva, Zeus, and Hera.
Apollo of Veii
This statue is a terracotta masterpiece. Apollo is the character Herucles fought against in his finding of the Golden Hind.
Who was Vulca?
The ancient writer Pliny stated that a man by the name of Vulca was summoned to Rome and various other places to do artwork, and that he may have made the Portonaccio Temple.
Time Before Rome
Before the small village of Rome became one of the largest nations in the world, that area was ruled by the Etruscans.
Etruscans and Greeks
The Etruscans along with the Greeks built Europe’s first real cities. They were so successful that some cities that they made such as Florence and Siena are still inhabited today.
Etruscan Influence
The Etruscans greatly influenced the Romans and gave them that the ideas that the Romans would advance and become famous from. To name a few; they gave the Romans the ideas of gladitorial-battle, sculpting, hydraulic engineering, temple design, and much more.
Etrusca as an Empire
Etrusca grew to become very large thanks to trade and ended up reaching the borders of the Greek and Persian Empires. They all traded with eachother and these empires became very similar over time. Unlike the other two empires, however, most of what we know about the Etruscans is from their cemeteries.
Etruscans and the Afterlife
The Etruscans though greatly of the afterlife and built very elaborate tombs. Later on as more money was gained from trade, these tombs became very lavish and expensive.
The Bronze Beds
The richer Etruscans were often made beds coated with bronze that were on 4 wheels to represent the journey into the afterlife. Inside, there were many jewelries and incense burners as gifts to the dead person as well.
