{"id":690,"date":"2019-12-05T14:20:33","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T14:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/?p=690"},"modified":"2019-12-05T14:20:33","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T14:20:33","slug":"the-etruscan-necropolises-of-cerveteri-tarquinia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/12\/05\/the-etruscan-necropolises-of-cerveteri-tarquinia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri & Tarquinia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"truscan

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/silviacrisman<\/p><\/div>\n

When thinking about Italy\u2019s ancient history, the first name that comes to mind \u2013 obviously \u2013 is Rome. The former global power, the tremendous imperium, the unique architectural and cultural heritage… but what \/ who was before the Romans? The Etruscans populated the northern part of Central Italy from around 800 BC until far into the second half of the 1st<\/sup> century BC and left many a fascinating cultural evidence still researched intensely to this day; party due to the many mysteries surrounding them. The old burial grounds and rites of the Etruscans are regard as exceedingly interesting. As such, you\u2019ll hardly be surprised to hear that the Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, two especially grand examples of such grounds, were declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.<\/p>\n

About the Etruscan culture<\/strong><\/p>\n

How the Etruscan culture actually came to Etruria \u2013 their heartland\u2019s name, which stretches across most of today\u2019s Tuscany, northern Lazio and parts of Umbria \u2013 is unknown. Experts believe that migration and emergence of said culture were not too far apart. There are still many theories about where the Etruscans originated \u2013 some think they immigrated from Lydia (today\u2019s Turkey), others believe they emerged from the Iron Age Villanova culture of Bologna. First documented grave finds date back to the 9th<\/sup> century BC. Various necropolises reflect significant changes in the burial rites over the course of the centuries. Several practices were carried out either at the same time or after one another allowing the historic placement of the various sites.<\/p>\n

In fact, far too little is known about the Etruscans today. Remains of Etruscan architecture are extremely rare \u2013 only very few foundations here and there, mostly of temples, survived \u2013 objects of art depicting the transition from oriental to Greek imprint are few and far between. The language, too, has only been rudimentarily studied at best due to lack of extensive written records. Thus, the Etruscan culture still captivates researchers to this very day. While it mostly disappeared upon assimilation into the Roman Empire in pre-Christian times \u2013 the granting of unlimited civil rights around 90 BC put a formal end to Etruscan history \u2013 the hunt for clues remains an exciting challenge.<\/p>\n

The Necropolises of Cerveteri<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"truscan

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/silviacrisman<\/p><\/div>\n

Our first stop takes us near Rome, approx. 42 km west of the capital. The friendly town of Cerveteri is situated between the Monti Sabatini and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Founded by Etruscans, it was originally called Caere or, to give it its Etruscan name, Caisra. Iron ore exports turned Cerveteri into one of the largest and most populous towns in Etruria, about 15 times its current size.<\/p>\n

Where there was a lot of living, there was a lot of dying. Admittedly, that sounds quite morbid, but this mere fact grants you fascinating insights into a culture still heavily shrouded in mystery. The two Necropolises of Cerveteri with their thousands of graves were laid-out like a sort of city map with various squares and districts. Size and burial equipment depend on both the era and the importance of the family. Among the most important tombs are:<\/p>\n