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Etruscan vases, more a product of Greece than Etrusca.

Etruscan Vases

Etruscan vases, more a product of Greece than Etrusca.

Terracotta Etruscan mask.

Etruscan mask

Terracotta Etruscan mask.

Silenus, handle of Etruscan vessel.

Silenus Mask

Silenus, handle of Etruscan vessel.

Etruscan terra-cotta cresting.

Etruscan Cresting

Etruscan terra-cotta cresting.

Etruscan ornament detail.

Etruscan Ornament

Etruscan ornament detail.

Etruscan ornament detail.

Etruscan Ornament

Etruscan ornament detail.

Etruscan terra-cotta border.

Etruscan Border

Etruscan terra-cotta border.

Etruscan terra-cotta border.

Etruscan Border

Etruscan terra-cotta border.

Detail of an Etruscan pilaster.

Etruscan Pilaster

Detail of an Etruscan pilaster.

Etruscan pilaster cap.

Etruscan Pilaster Cap

Etruscan pilaster cap.

"Antefixa representing Minerva superintending the construction of the Ship Argo. Antefixa are terra-cottas, which exhibited various ornamental designs, and were used in architecture to cover the frieze of the entablature. These terra-cottas do not appear to have been used among the Greeks, but were probabl Etruscan in their origin, and were thence taken for the decoration of Roman buildings. The name antefixa is evidently derived from the circumstance that they were fixed before the buildings which they adorned. Cato, the censor, complained that the Romans of his time began to despise ornaments of this description, and to prefer the marble friezes of Athens and Corinth. The rising taste which Cato deplored may account for the superior beauty of the antefixa preserved in the British Museum, which were discovered at Rome." — Smith, 1873

Antefixa

"Antefixa representing Minerva superintending the construction of the Ship Argo. Antefixa are terra-cottas,…

"The two imperfect antefixa, are amoung those found at Velletri, and described by Carloni. Antefixa are terra-cottas, which exhibited various ornamental designs, and were used in architecture to cover the frieze of the entablature. These terra-cottas do not appear to have been used among the Greeks, but were probabl Etruscan in their origin, and were thence taken for the decoration of Roman buildings. The name antefixa is evidently derived from the circumstance that they were fixed before the buildings which they adorned. Cato, the censor, complained that the Romans of his time began to despise ornaments of this description, and to prefer the marble friezes of Athens and Corinth. The rising taste which Cato deplored may account for the superior beauty of the antefixa preserved in the British Museum, which were discovered at Rome." — Smith, 1873

Antefixa

"The two imperfect antefixa, are amoung those found at Velletri, and described by Carloni. Antefixa…

"The figure in the middle of the following illustration is from a most ancient specimen of Etruscan sculpture, and represents an augur with his <em>lituus</em>, or staff. The others are Roman denarii." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Sculpture and coins

"The figure in the middle of the following illustration is from a most ancient specimen of Etruscan…

"Probably an Etruscan word signifying crooked. 1. The crooked staff borne by the augurs, with which they divided the expanse of heaven, when viewed with reference to divination, into regions. It is very frequently exhibited upon works of art. 2. A sort of trumpet slightly curved at the extremity. It differed both from the tuba and the cornu, the former being straight, while the latter was bent round into a spiral shape. Its tones are usually characterized as harsh and shrill." &mdash; Smith, 1873

Lituus

"Probably an Etruscan word signifying crooked. 1. The crooked staff borne by the augurs, with which…

"A greave, a leggin. A pair of greaves was one of the six articles of armour which formed the complete equipment of a Greek warrior, and likewise of a Roman soldier as fixed by Servius Tullius. They were made of various metals, with a lining probably of leather, felt, or cloth. Their form is shown in the accompanying cut. The figure is that of a fallen warrior, and is consequence of the bending of the knees, the greaves are seen to project a little above them. This statue also shows the ankle-rings, which were used to fasten the greaves immediately above the feet. The woodcut that follows shows the interior of a bronze shield, and a pair of bronze greaves found in the tomb of an Etruscan Museum. The greaves are made right and left." &mdash; Smith, 1873

Ocrea

"A greave, a leggin. A pair of greaves was one of the six articles of armour which formed the complete…

"A greave, a leggin. A pair of greaves was one of the six articles of armour which formed the complete equipment of a Greek warrior, and likewise of a Roman soldier as fixed by Servius Tullius. They were made of various metals, with a lining probably of leather, felt, or cloth. Their form is shown in the accompanying cut. The figure is that of a fallen warrior, and is consequence of the bending of the knees, the greaves are seen to project a little above them. This statue also shows the ankle-rings, which were used to fasten the greaves immediately above the feet. The woodcut that follows shows the interior of a bronze shield, and a pair of bronze greaves found in the tomb of an Etruscan Museum. The greaves are made right and left." &mdash; Smith, 1873

Ocrea

"A greave, a leggin. A pair of greaves was one of the six articles of armour which formed the complete…

"The earliest Etruscan works of sculpture which have come down to us are the stone reliefs of tombstones, in which the figures are treated in the realistic manner characteristic of Assyrian art." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

Etruscan relief

"The earliest Etruscan works of sculpture which have come down to us are the stone reliefs of tombstones,…

The She-Wolf of the Capitol. Etruscan." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

She-wolf

The She-Wolf of the Capitol. Etruscan." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Etruscan Sarcophagus, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Sarcophagus

"Etruscan Sarcophagus, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

"Bronze Etruscan figure." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Etruscan Figure

"Bronze Etruscan figure." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

The Etruscan stool.

Etruscan Stool

The Etruscan stool.

The circular so-called "Temple of Vesta" at Tivoli, of the early first century BCE, has been widely admired since the Renaissance. Its ruins sit on the acropolis of the Etruscan and Roman city of Tibur (now Tivoli), overlooking the falls of the Aniene in a picturesque narrow gully.

Temple of Vesta, Tivoli

The circular so-called "Temple of Vesta" at Tivoli, of the early first century BCE, has been widely…

Ante-fixae, the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan, or Greek temple, as spaced they take the place of the cymatium and form a cresting along the sides of the temple. The face of the ante-fixae was richly carved with the anthemion ornament.

Ante-fixae

Ante-fixae, the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan,…

Ante-fixae (from Latin antefigere, to fasten before), the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan, or Greek temple; as spaced they take the place of the cymatium and form a cresting along the sides of the temple. The face of the ante-fixae was richly carved with the anthemion ornament.

Ante-fixae

Ante-fixae (from Latin antefigere, to fasten before), the vertical blocks which terminate the covering…

The Silenus Mask was used as a handle of an Etruscan vessel.

Silenus Mask

The Silenus Mask was used as a handle of an Etruscan vessel.

The Etruscan Grotesque Mask is made out of terracotta.

Etruscan Grotesque Mask

The Etruscan Grotesque Mask is made out of terracotta.

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

Etruscan Earring

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

The Etruscan earring is usually light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

Etruscan Earring

The Etruscan earring is usually light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire…

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

Etruscan Earring

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

Etruscan Earring

The Etruscan earring is light in weight, usually made out of precious metals, in sheet or wire filigree.

In these Etruscan buildings traces are to be found of the arch; as, for instance, in the Gate of Volterra and other gates at Perugia; so also in the Cloacæ at Rome, of which the Cloaca Maxima is 20 feet broad. These are sewers which were intended to render the marshy district between the hills of Rome inhabitable. They were constructed in the reign of Tarquinius Superbus, at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

Etruscan Arch at Perugia

In these Etruscan buildings traces are to be found of the arch; as, for instance, in the Gate of Volterra…

In these Etruscan buildings traces are to be found of the arch; as, for instance, in the Gate of Volterra and other gates at Perugia; so also in the Cloac&aelig; at Rome, of which the Cloaca Maxima is 20 feet broad. These are sewers which were intended to render the marshy district between the hills of Rome inhabitable. They were constructed in the reign of Tarquinius Superbus, at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

The Cloaca Maxima at Rome

In these Etruscan buildings traces are to be found of the arch; as, for instance, in the Gate of Volterra…

The most interesting monuments of Etruscan architecture which have been preserved are the tombs. They are for the most part chambers hewn in the rock, and supported by square piers. The tombs were either subterranean, and had an entrance façade hewn out of the rock, or they assume the shape of tumuli, which had one or more conical elevations resting on a superstructure.

Tumuli

The most interesting monuments of Etruscan architecture which have been preserved are the tombs. They…

The most interesting monuments of Etruscan architecture which have been preserved are the tombs. They are for the most part chambers hewn in the rock, and supported by square piers. The tombs were either subterranean, and had an entrance façade hewn out of the rock, or they assume the shape of tumuli, which had one or more conical elevations resting on a superstructure. Sometimes these tombs are quadrangular with a pyramidal superstructure

Etruscan Tomb at Castel d'Asso

The most interesting monuments of Etruscan architecture which have been preserved are the tombs. They…

Simple styles, such as the Doric, which accorded so intimately with the whole disposition of the Grecian temple, and the Ionic, were but rarely used; whilst, on the other hand, the Corinthian order was extremely prevalent, for it corresponded to the desire for splendor and magnificence. This order was employed, not, as among the Greeks, in small dimensions, but on the largest scale.

Corinthian Entablature from the Nerva at Rome

Simple styles, such as the Doric, which accorded so intimately with the whole disposition of the Grecian…

An illustration of two lictors, members of a special class of Roman civil servants. Lictors had special tasks of attending and guarding magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium; essentially, a bodyguard. The origin of the tradition of lictors goes back to the time when Rome was a kingdom, perhaps acquired from their Etruscan neighbours.

Roman Civil Servants

An illustration of two lictors, members of a special class of Roman civil servants. Lictors had special…

This jug has a handle which is sculpted higher than the jug itself. A woman's face is seen near the jug's opening. Floral patterns decorate the outer portion of the jug. The base is smaller than the main portion.

Etruscan Jug

This jug has a handle which is sculpted higher than the jug itself. A woman's face is seen near the…

This Etruscan vase is an imitation.

Etruscan Vase

This Etruscan vase is an imitation.

This Etruscan vase is an imitation.

Etruscan Vase

This Etruscan vase is an imitation.

This Etruscan vase is an imitation. This vase is of considerable height and is 4 feet tall.

Etruscan Vase

This Etruscan vase is an imitation. This vase is of considerable height and is 4 feet tall.

This album cover is a royal quarto (bookbinding technique). It is colored in brown and inlaid in black. It is designed in an Etruscan style.

Album Cover

This album cover is a royal quarto (bookbinding technique). It is colored in brown and inlaid in black.…