Lecture Notes: Etruscan Bronze Sculptures and Funerary Art

Etruscan Bronze Sculptures

Key Example: Chi Mara (Chimera)

• Period: Late 5th century
• Dimensions: 3 feet high, 5 feet long
• Description: Composite creature (lion with a goat coming out of its side and a snake for a tail)
• Symbolism: Term used in literature to represent something burdensome, like a plague
• Historical Rediscovery: Found during the Renaissance by Cosimo de Medici
  • Cosimo's Influence: Adopted the image on his crest; spent time removing rust from it
• Bronze Technique: Ancient methods used then are similar to techniques used today

Full-Scale Bronze Sculptures

• Features: Contrapposto weight shift, highly articulated body
• Eyes: Made from an interesting composite material
• Identification: Through attire and accessories

Etruscan Funerary Art

Transition Over Time

• Early Period: Archaic period, terracotta used
• Later Period: 2nd century, switch to carved stone sarcophagi

Stone Sarcophagi

• Contents: Holds remains or cremated remains
• Design: Reclining figures on top, depicting couples in a lifelike manner
• Comparison to Other Cultures: More realistic and relatable than, for instance, Egyptian marriage poses

Changes After Roman Takeover

• Mass Production: Stock supply of sarcophagi bases and lids
• Customization: Different models, painted details for personalization
• Mythological Themes: Depictions of myths or legends meaningful to the deceased

Combined Burial Practices

• Round Subterranean Tombs: Carved from tufa, containing multiple sarcophagi
• Interior Arrangement: Sarcophagi arranged in a circle, resembling a party
• Gender-Specific Items:
  • Men: Libation bowls, writing instruments, drinking horns
  • Women: Mirrors, torches, palms, pomegranates
• Appearance: Brightly painted but not individualized

Influence on Roman Burial Practices

• Etruscan variations of Greco-Roman mythology with a distinct Tuscan form influenced the grand ways of Roman burials.