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Archaeologia: Tuscania
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by Tanaquil Sergius
The ancient Etruscan and Roman centre was most probably laid out within the perimeters of the present day city, where the river Maschiolo meets the Marta. The necropoleis, which are loacted around the city on the slopes of the Pian di Mole and on the banks of the Marta and the Maschiolo, show that already in the archaic period (VII-VI centuries BCE) Tuscania was quite an important centre.
This is also evidenced by the tombs constructed with vaulted ceilings and openings in the ceilings, similar to the Tarquinian ones, and by the rocky tombs, such as the famous cube-shaped or a dado Tomb of the Peschiera (first years of the VI century BCE).
Top: tomba "a dado". Bottom: reconstruction of the front of the "Tomba di Peschiera". These last tombs in turn reveal contacts with tombs of the same period in the inland area around Caere. With the Hellenistic Phase (IV-I centuries BCE) the city entered a period of special prosperity. The necropoli present chamber tombs with benches for the positioning of clay sarcophagi with so called recumbenti, figures of people laying back as if on a dinner couch on the sarcophagus lid, all with a clearly Tarquinian flavour.
Some important examples are the tombs belonging to the Vipinana family, with 27 sarcophagi, those belonging to the Statlana family with 50 sarcophagi and those belonging to the Atna family with 4 sarcophagi. The recent discovery of two tombs in the Hellenistic necropolis of Madonna d'Olivo, belonging to the Curuna family, has attracted specail attention. These were found intact, with many rich grave goods of bronze and ceramic and with over 30 sarcophagi, some with bas-relief decorations and with inscriptions.
During the Roman Imperial Age, Tuscania was a fairly important centre, being a station along the Via Clodia. But it was with the Middle Ages that the city became a Bisphoric of great importance so much so that it absorbed the whole territory that had been dependent on Tarquinia in ancient times. Source: Cateni, G., The Etruscans, Novara, 1988
the interior of a tomb in Tuscania |
Tabularium
~ Table of Contents ~
RELIGIO ROMANA, Cult of Mithras
SLL Lectiones Latinae SLL Litteratura Classica The Etruscan Library The AW Neigborhoods Hellenike Paideia, a concept of education in Ancient Greek Menerva Delenda Est Carthago ELLHNIKH PAIDEIA Hellènikè Paideia The Neighborhoods of The Roman World Roman Entries for the November issue of Acta Diurna Roman Family Names SLL X-mas wish Acta II, 2004-2005 Satyricon: a Roman Novel of the 1st Century A.D. The Roman Hood Report AD April 2005 Issue, concept Roman Entry Acta IV, 2005 (concept) Lesson II Ancient Greek Course Acta Issue, May 2005(concept) Satyricon: a Roman Novel of the 1st Century A.D. Martialis, the poet of epigrams Acta Issue, IV,7 (concept) The Divina Commedia and the Aeneid (under construction) The Religion of the Etruscans, according to Massimo Pallottino The European Anthem Acta Diurna, Issue 8 (concept) Concept Rome Page Acta November 2005 The Roman Family Project Pullo and Vorenus Archaeologia: Orvieto Archaeologia: Forum Romanum: The Arch of Septimius Severus Archaeologia: Forum Romanum: Rostra, Curia, Decennalia Base and Lapis Niger Archaeologia: Menerva on an Etruscan mirror in the Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, Germany Archaeologia: Forum Romanum: The Arch of Titus |
