After his
eastern campaign, Alexander returned
to
The Etruscan
civilization had reached its apogee around 750 BC and flourished in three city
confederations:
In Alexander’s days, the Etruscans had
started to be assimilated by the Romans – a process that ended in 27 BC when
they were totally incorporated into the
This very idea hit me after looking at an article in World History, in which a gallery of 25 top pieces from Etruscan art are being presented. Overall, this art is best known from the frescoed walls inside the many tombs like those centered in the necropolises of Tarquinia and Cerveteri. But scrolling through the images from the above mentioned gallery there are also very telling terracotta figures, unique friezes and fine bronze statues.
I like to think that Alexander would have felt very much at home walking among these images. The Etruscans did not shy away from other forms of art and readily acquired foreign artifacts (even from the East!) to embellish their houses and tombs. It is surprising to learn that they sculpted the first nude women, way before the Greek culture accepted the very idea (see: Was Alexander the Great aware of Cnidos?)
It is worth flipping through the pictures in the gallery presented by Word History to get a comprehensive view of this particular civilization that enjoyed life so much!
It would have been interesting to know Alexander’s reaction if confronted with the Etruscans and their rich culture.
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