Nestled in the central and rolling hills of northwest and central Italian peninsula, the Etruscans initially inhabited a series of loosely formed confederated independent cities from Mantua to Rome and then later expanded further north and south to include the regions bordered by the Poe river in the north and south past Campeva, even venturing west onto Corsica. It is believed they were descendents of indigenous prehistoric Italians.
Due to a very favorable and mild climate, this region was ripe in natural resources including iron ore deposits, lumber, stone, clay, and was ideal for a variety of agricultural activities. The Etruscans were active traders, had significant military tradition, and were avid seafarers. While the Etruscans were exposed to various cultures and peoples during their trade activities, their art and culture was developed somewhat independently of others. Or better said, they observed the works of other cultures and then added their own Etruscan stamp to their final output.
Most notably is the depiction of, and inclusion of women in both their art and culture. Unlike the ancient Greeks, Etruscan women were considered full citizens with all the rights and honors enjoyed by all (non slave) male citizens. This inclusion in society greatly affected their art, culture, and politics. In surviving artifacts, we see women (most probably wives) depicted as equals along side their male companions, whereas in the Greek culture, the wife was hidden; considered a child and property. The only women prominently represented in Greek art and culture were goddesses, prostitutes, and oracles. Very few exceptions exist but do include several grave stelae and a few surviving pottery finds.
From the outset, the Etruscans demonstrated realistic depictions of their subjects, including aging facial features (lines, wrinkles, receding hairline, crooked noses, and uneven eyes). Most of their statues and surviving frescos show active and energetic motion, whereas in the Greek culture, until the period of Hellenization, all statues and pottery depicted idealistic, beautiful symmetric figures, adhering to the canons of proportion established by Polykeitos and the Egyptians.
The ancient Greeks buried their dead in shallow graves. Unless the deceased was of elite status, no elaborate burial monument was erected to mark the passing save a grave stele for the most honored Greek citizens. The Etruscans however revitalized the use of sarcophagi and burial tombs (ala the ancient Egyptians and Mycenaeans). The Etruscans depicted both the husband and wife on double burial sarcophagi; perhaps believing that in death, as in life, they will continue their marriage. As for Etruscan tombs, similar in construction to the tholos tombs of the ancient Mycenaeans, their interiors are equally as ornate as the ancient Egyptian burial chambers of New Kingdom period. The Etruscans employed rock cutting artisans and painters to decorate the tombs with intricate reliefs and frescos. Like the Egyptians, the Etruscans built their necropolis to provide a separate and demarcated area to preserve and revere their dead. It is apparent when viewing these tombs that the Etruscans believed in providing comfortable and rich surroundings for their dead.
Not unlike the Greeks and Early Romans, the Etruscans practiced polytheism; even adopting similar gods and goddesses including their versions of Zeus, Athena, Hera, Apollo, etc. To honor these gods, the Etruscans built temples to house statues said to possess the spirits of the gods. Like the Greeks and then Early Romans, these temples were of monumental construction. However, the Etruscans adjusted the construction materials to suit what was readily available to them. Instead of placing the temple on continuous stepped, column wrapped stylobate, the Etruscans employed a higher podium with a single, narrow stair entrance covered by a columned porch. The Etruscan columns were made from local wood whereas the Greeks employed stone. The Greek temple walls were fashioned from quarried stone whereas the Etruscans, masters of terracotta, erected their temple walls from sun-baked bricks (not unlike the Babylonian’s Ishtar Gate). Further, while the Greeks built a single temple to house a single god or goddess, the Etruscans divided their temples into several cellas, or chambers, each acting as a repository for an individual god or goddess. The Etruscans used the same gable-type roof construction as the Greeks, substituting wood and clay tiles in their final construction. Unlike the Greeks, the Etruscans did not decorate the pediment nor the friezes with architectural sculpture, instead they opted for acroteria placed strategically upon the roof apex and slopes.
Here are several URLs for further enjoyable reading about this amazing, but short-lived culture.
http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/history.html
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=etruscan_studies
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