L'Italo-Americano

T h e E t r u s c a n s are widely con- sidered the first g r e a t c u l t u r a l a n d m i l i t a r y power in the peninsula. They h a d a d e v e l o p e d s o c i e t y , good technological knowl- edge, a complex language, and a complex spiritual sys- tem. Their refined aesthetics w e r e p o w e r f u l e n o u g h t o influence their most famous neighbors, the Romans. Still today, the elegance of their art remains symbolic of the greatness of their civilization. The war-oriented Romans caused their fall, but the Etr- uscan influence on their soci- ety and culture remained strong. Indeed, when we Ital- ians think about our ancient a n c e s t o r s a n d t h e g r e a t things they did for Western Civilization, we should give t h e E t r u s c a n s w a y m o r e credit than we often do. But who were they? The Etruscans inhabited modern-day Tuscany and northern Latium, as well as parts of Emilia and Umbria; their civilization developed between the years 1000 BC and 100 BC when they were conquered by Rome. Their society was likely ruled by a military aristocracy, but the vast majority of their people were farmers. Very likely, they also cleverly used the many natural resources of the land, including copper and gold, which contributed to the development of a well- known metalwork tradition. T h e E t r u s c a n s w e r e a l s o well-versed sailors and likely traveled across the Mediter- ranean for trade. With the rise of Rome, it was only a matter of time before the two civilizations clashed: the Romans had a clear expansion plan to carry out, but the Etruscans were attracted by Rome, too. The city was in a strategic posi- tion in Latium and it would have granted easier access to Southern Italy. And while the Etruscans never conquered Rome literally, they did rule on it for quite some time, if y o u t h i n k t h a t t w o o f i t s seven kings were, in fact, Etr- u s c a n s , a n d o n e – Servius Tullius – had Etr- uscan roots. Servius Tullius is actually an important figure in the h i s t o r y o f R o m e : i t w a s u n d e r h i s r u l e t h e f i r s t Roman census took place, and key social and military reforms – which made up the v e r y c o r e o f w h a t w a s t o become Roman society as we know it – were implemented. But the first, wholly Etr- u s c a n k i n g o f R o m e was Tarquinius Priscus: as king number six, he was the second last, followed by a n o t h e r E t r u s c a n , T a r - quinius Superbus, under whom the Roman kingdom collapsed. Despite his feisty n a t u r e , P r i s c u s w a s a n important ruler for the city, as it led its army to the con- quest of large portions of ter- ritory in central Italy. His successor, however, didn't leave a great impression at a l l . T a r q u i n i u s S u p e r b u s ruled as a dictator and the Romans didn't quite do dic- tatorships: they rebelled, overthrew the monarchy, and instituted a republic. Whether we consider Etr- uscan kings' rule on Rome positively or negatively from a social and political point of view, their importance for the development of the city is undeniable. It was thanks to them that what was, overall, still a small town, became a bonafide city-state. The Etruscans were also g r e a t e n g i n e e r s a n d i t ' s thanks to their ingenuity that R o m e d e v e l o p e d f r o m a n urbanistic point of view, too, if it's true that they learned about a key architectural fea- ture, the arch, from them. The first sewage system in the city was built under the Tarquini, too. And while we don't know much about the Etruscan religion – besides that they had an otherworld similar to that of other ancient civiliza- tions, where the dead lived in eternity mirroring how they lived on Earth – we certainly know that the Romans inher- ited the traditions of divina- tion and the interpretation of d i v i n e s i g n s f r o m t h e m . Some essential figures in Roman religion, such as that of the haruspex, were inher- i t e d f r o m t h e E t r u s c a n s . The haruspex was a priest who specialized in identify- ing and interpreting divine signs and the will of the gods through the analysis of sacri- ficial animals' organs, the flight of birds, as well as the w a y s a c r e d a n i m a l s … a t e their food! And there is more because, while on the Roman throne, Tarquinius Priscus obtained from the famous Cumaean Sibyl a series of b o o k s o n d i v i n a t i o n a n d p r o p h e c y , t h e S y b i l l i n e Books, which became key in Roman religion and were consulted until the very end o f t h e W e s t e r n R o m a n Empire. Truth is that Etruscan cul- ture and mores remained entrenched into Roman soci- ety well into the Republican per iod, al so because Etr - uscan and Romans… min- gled a lot with one another. When already part of the Kingdom of Rome, Etruscan soldiers, for instance, con- t r i b u t e d g r e a t l y t o t h e Roman army, especially dur- ing the Second Punic War. T h e g r e a t n e s s o f t h e Romans and the contribution they gave to our civilization is immense, but it would be wrong to consider everything t h e y g a v e u s e x c l u s i v e l y as farina del loro sacco: they didn't do it all on their own. T h e E t r u s c a n s , a l o n g o f course with the Greeks and other great civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean, w i t h w h o m t h e R o m a n s c a m e i n t o c o n t a c t , c o n - tributed heavily to the devel- o p m e n t o f t h e i r s o c i e t y , becoming an active part of our own heritage. Etruscans in Rome: how they made the Eternal City … eternal! CHIARA D'ALESSIO Frescoes in an Etruscan tomb in Tarquinia. The Romans inherited a lot of their religious system from the Etruscans (Photo: Wulwais/Dreamstime) THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano HERITAGE HISTORY IDENTITY TRADITIONS PEOPLE

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