Etruscans held their dead in very high regard. The tombs of the Etruscan’s reflect their obsession with ornamentation and the reverence of the dead. By looking at the tombs of the past we can gain a better understanding of the culture as a whole.
Often tombs were filled to the brim with a wide variety of both decorative and sacred objects. Large statues of animals often graced the door ways meant as guardians for the tombs. Ceramic vases and pottery was often used to hold the ashes of the dead or to serve as decorative elements. This indicates that the dead’s body was still valued and held significance, unlike some other societies that have little regard for the body after the “soul” has left it.
The paintings that often decorate the walls of the tomb offer insight into Etruscan culture. Scenes of chariot races, feasts, and celebrations were common place. Treasures within the tombs speak of the wealth of the culture and their prosperity backed up with the scenes depicted in the paintings. Social standing and power must have been important to them since the most elaborate tombs were typically of high ranking officials (Marcela, 2009)
Etruscans may have thought of the funerary process as a celebration. Scenes painted within the walls of the Tomb of Typhon show days of celebrating the deceased with feasts and parties(Marcela, 2009). The grieving process of the Etruscans was most likely very different from the somber tone of modern funerary methods. Overall the Etruscan tombs over valuable insight into the life and death of these individuals. By exploring how different cultures view and understand death we are also able to understand their religious and sociological beliefs on a larger scale.
Works Cited:
Marcela, D. (2009). Etruscan Tombs. The Mysterious Etruscans - Pre-Roman Civilisation in Italy . Retrieved May 26, 2013, from http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/tombs
