Join me in welcoming Laura Morelli, an art historian and author of award-winning historical fiction.
In the Footsteps of Ancient Etruscan Women
If you’ve heard anything at all about the ancient Etruscans of central Italy, you probably know they are considered “mysterious.” The reality is that we know quite a lot about the ancient people who occupied a swath of central Italy corresponding roughly with Lazio, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna before the Roman conquest. In many ways, the Etruscans aren’t so mysterious after all. This is particularly true of Etruscan women. In fact, if we are to believe the archeological and written evidence related to Etruscan women, then it’s clear that Etruscan women were distinct among women of the ancient Mediterranean. Here’s how:
First, Etruscan women may have enjoyed more equal status with men than in other ancient cultures. How do we know this? Let’s look at a few pieces of evidence.
Funerary Customs
In Etruscan culture, the necropolis—or city of the dead—was a parallel universe to the city of the living. In Etruria, people buried multiple generations of the same family in one tomb; the tomb became a multigenerational family “home.” Tombs were filled with bodies and grave goods over time, from urns to sarcophagi, and troves of the family’s most precious earthly belongings—everything from jewelry to pottery, clothing, and other possessions.
Inside the tombs, there might be multiple chambers. Husbands and wives usually occupied the same chamber, and were often laid out side by side on beds that were excavated from porous, volcanic tufa stone. Sometimes, the male’s funeral bed is demarcated with a circle, the woman’s with a triangle. Usually, the two beds are more or less equivalent in size and placement. In studying the ancient Etruscans, so much of what we learn about the culture of the living comes from the culture of the dead—since that’s what’s been left behind to study. In funerary practices, at least, we see that wives enjoyed equal treatment to the husbands.
Banqueting
Another place where we see relatively equal treatment among men and women is in the imagery of banqueting. Banquets and festive dining are frequent subjects in Etruscan sculpture and painting.
Contemporary Greek writers tell us that the Etruscans were noted for their wealth, their feasts, and for an unbridled enjoyment of earthly pleasures. A Greek historian by the name of Theopompus of Chios, living in the 4th century BCE, recorded what he claims were his own observations of the behavior of Etruscan women. It turns out that Theopompus’ report of Etruscan women was not just highly critical, was scathing. To start, Theopompus of Chios tells us that Etruscan women “were expert drinkers and very good looking.” He also complains that Etruscan women “dine not with their own husbands, but with any men who happen to be present.”
In Greek culture, women were not supposed to drink or dine with men other than their fathers, brothers, and husbands. The Romans tended to follow this custom. But in Etruria, things were apparently different. The ancient Greeks were known for their symposia, which were essentially adult male drinking parties. Women were not invited or welcome at these events. But it seems that in the Etruscan culture, women played an active part in social dining events.
It’s likely that banqueting was a central part of the Etruscans’ funerary rituals, and it’s a frequent theme of Etruscan sarcophagus decoration. The amazing “Sarcophagus of the Spouses” (sarcofago degli sposi) is a perfect example of equal treatment of men and women in the imagery of banqueting.
This work stands as a symbol for the festive, fun-loving spirit of the Etruscan culture of the sixth century BCE. I think it also conveys the idea that Etruscan couples might have been relaxed and easy with one another, that they might have participated in pleasurable activities together—dining, hosting guests, sharing food and drink or a laugh with visitors. These two, at least, seem ready to celebrate together for all eternity.
Click here to register for Laura Morelli’s free online workshop on Women in Etruscan Art.
About Laura and her books:
Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and is the author of fiction and nonfiction inspired by the history of art. She has taught college students in the U.S. and Italy, and has developed lessons for TED-Ed. Her flagship shopping guidebook, Made in Italy, has led travelers off the beaten track for more than two decades. Her award-winning historical novels include The Painter’s Apprentice, The Gondola Maker, and The Giant; A Novel of Michelangelo’s David. Learn more at lauramorelli.com.