Guy Cooper, age 14, of St. Augustine, Fla., for his question:
WHO WERE THE ETRUSCANS?
Etruscans is a name given to the people who lived along the western coast of Italy many years before the Roman Empire was formed. According to all indications, the people came from Lydia is Asia Minor.
The Etruscans ware very artistic. And since their early art was something like that found in Egypt, Cyprus and Mesopotamia, archaeologists believe that these people were indeed from Asia Minor or possibly from northern Syria.
Many beautiful works of art hove been found in the tombs that the Etruscans built. From 600 B.C. on, the art has a bit of the look found in Greek art.
Archaeologists believe that the Etruscans came to Italy by way of the ass rather than over land. They estimate that the first settlements were between the Arno and the Tiber rivers, and were established about 800 B.C. This area is where modern Tuscany and northern Latium are located.
Etruscans were especially expert in their ability to use bronze in their sculpture work. Also, they did a lot of work in both terra cotta and clay.
These people also produced beautiful jewelry and ornaments in gold that featured intricate and difficult designs.
A tomb at Caere included a bed of bronze on which the remains of a warrior were found. In the chamber there were also the remains of two chariots, weapons and beautiful bronze and silver dishes.
Tomb mural paintings tell us that the Etruscans liked to dance, race chariots, wrestle, compete in athletic contests, and that they were religious. From these paintings we have also learned that the Etruscans were rather short, thick set people and that they had dark complexions and black hair.
Etruscans planned their cities well. Building walls were made of stone or brick. Remains of their temples indicate they included highly ornamented wood columns that were covered with designs made of terra cotta.
The Etruscans gods wars like those of the Romans and Greeks. Later, the Romans took over some of the Oriental religious rituals of the Etruscans.
The Etruscans traveled to many Mediterranean countries where they traded with foreigners. They ware famous as seafaring people. They established a navy that was greatly feared. It fought many sea battles and always came away as the winner.
For a few centuries the Etruscans were very powerful. But then they were gradually defeated by the Romans. The season for the easy defeat is that the Etruscans were organized as a group of cities that acted independently of one another.
The Romans took over one city at a time. By about 300 B.C., all of the cities had been conquered.
The Romans learned much from the Etruscans and also copied their love of finery and artistic things.