A Companion to the Etruscans

Over the last decade, interest in Etruscan art and archaeology has been rapidly on the rise. Often dismissed as mysterious, eccentric, and culturally inferior to the Greeks and the Romans, the Etruscans were in fact a vibrant, independent people whose distinct civilization flourished in central Italy for most of the first millennium BCE. This collection contributes to the revitalization of the field by demonstrating the Etruscans' formative role in the development of western culture. With contributions from well-established and emerging scholars alike, A Companion to the Etruscans offers fresh perspectives on Etruscan art, society and culture grounded in the most up-to-date research and archaeological discoveries. In addition to coverage of traditional topics such as architecture, wall painting, ceramics, and sculpture, the Companion also focuses on issues and themes previously overlooked or insufficiently addressed in the existing scholarship, such as the obesus etruscus, the function and use of jewelry at different life stages, Greek and Roman topoi about the Etruscans, the Etruscans' reception of ponderation, and more. Employing a range of new theoretical approaches to reassess longstanding misconceptions, A Companion to the Etruscans will be an essential text for anyone interested in better understanding the lasting legacy of this civilization.