# Etruria

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{{Short description|Region of Central Italy}}{{About|the ancient region of Italy|other uses}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Tyrrhenia|Tyrsenia}}
thumb|right|300px|Map showing Etruria and Etruscan colonies as of 750 BC and as expanded until 500 BC
'''Etruria''' ({{IPAc-en|ɪ|ˈ|t|r|ʊər|i|ə}} {{respell|ih|TROOR|ee|ə}}) was a region of [Central Italy](/source/Central_Italy) delimited by the rivers [Arno](/source/Arno) and [Tiber](/source/Tiber),{{sfn|Treccani}} an area that covered what is now most of [Tuscany](/source/Tuscany), northern [Lazio](/source/Lazio), and north-western [Umbria](/source/Umbria). It was inhabited by the [Etruscans](/source/Etruscans), an ancient civilization that flourished in the area from around the 8th century BC until they were assimilated into the [Roman Republic](/source/Roman_Republic) in the 4th century BC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Etruschi - Enciclopedia |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/etruschi_(Enciclopedia-Italiana)/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Treccani |language=it}}</ref>

==Etruscan Etruria==
The ancient people of Etruria<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1126/sciadv.abi7673|title = The origin and legacy of the Etruscans through a 2000-year archeogenomic time transect|year = 2021|last1 = Posth|first1 = Cosimo|last2 = Zaro|first2 = Valentina|last3 = Spyrou|first3 = Maria A.|last4 = Vai|first4 = Stefania|last5 = Gnecchi-Ruscone|first5 = Guido A.|last6 = Modi|first6 = Alessandra|last7 = Peltzer|first7 = Alexander|last8 = Mötsch|first8 = Angela|last9 = Nägele|first9 = Kathrin|last10 = Vågene|first10 = Åshild J.|last11 = Nelson|first11 = Elizabeth A.|last12 = Radzevičiūtė|first12 = Rita|last13 = Freund|first13 = Cäcilia|last14 = Bondioli|first14 = Lorenzo M.|last15 = Cappuccini|first15 = Luca|last16 = Frenzel|first16 = Hannah|last17 = Pacciani|first17 = Elsa|last18 = Boschin|first18 = Francesco|last19 = Capecchi|first19 = Giulia|last20 = Martini|first20 = Ivan|last21 = Moroni|first21 = Adriana|last22 = Ricci|first22 = Stefano|last23 = Sperduti|first23 = Alessandra|last24 = Turchetti|first24 = Maria Angela|last25 = Riga|first25 = Alessandro|last26 = Zavattaro|first26 = Monica|last27 = Zifferero|first27 = Andrea|last28 = Heyne|first28 = Henrike O.|last29 = Fernández-Domínguez|first29 = Eva|last30 = Kroonen|first30 = Guus J.|journal = [Science Advances](/source/Science_Advances)|volume = 7|issue = 39|article-number = eabi7673|pmid = 34559560|pmc = 8462907| bibcode=2021SciA....7.7673P |display-authors = 1}}</ref>
are identified as [Etruscan](/source/Etruscan_civilization)s. Their complex [culture](/source/Etruscan_civilization)<ref>Kindy, David, ''[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dna-analysis-shows-early-etruscans-were-homegrown-180978772/ Where Did the Ancient Etruscans Come From?: A new DNA analysis suggests the enigmatic civilization was native to the Italian Peninsula]'', Smithsonian, September 29, 2021</ref> centered on numerous city-states that arose during the [Villanovan](/source/Villanovan) period in the ninth century BC, and they were very powerful during the [Orientalizing](/source/Orientalizing) [Archaic period](/source/Archaic_period_in_Greece)s.

The Etruscans were a dominant culture in Italy by 650 BC,<ref name="Rix-2008">Rix, Helmut. "Etruscan." In ''The Ancient Languages of Europe,'' ed. Roger D. Woodard. Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 141–164.</ref> surpassing other ancient Italic peoples such as the [Ligures](/source/Ligures). Their influence may be seen beyond Etruria's confines in the [Po River](/source/Po_River) Valley and [Latium](/source/Latium), as well as in [Campania](/source/Campania) and through their contact with the [Greek colonies](/source/Magna_Graecia) in [Southern Italy](/source/Southern_Italy) (including Sicily). Indeed, at some Etruscan tombs, such as those of the [Tumulus di Montefortini](/source/Tumulus_di_Montefortini) at Comeana (see [Carmignano](/source/Carmignano)) in [Tuscany](/source/Tuscany), physical evidence of trade with [Egypt](/source/Third_Intermediate_Period_of_Egypt) has been found by archaeologists—fine [Egyptian faience](/source/Egyptian_faience) cups are an example. Such trade occurred either directly with Egypt or through intermediaries such as Greek or Phoenician sailors.

[[File:Сведомский Александр Александрович - Ворота в городе Вольтерра, Этрурия.jpg|thumb|''Gate in [Volterra](/source/Volterra), Etruria'' or ''Returning With Captives'' by {{ill|Aleksandr Svedomsky|fr|Aleksandr Svedomski}} or Svedomskiy, 1884]]

Rome was influenced strongly by the Etruscans even though it was separated from the early boundary of Etruria by the [Silva Ciminia](/source/Silva_Ciminia), the Ciminian Forest. A series of Etruscan kings ruled [Rome](/source/Rome) until 509 BC when the last Etruscan king, [Lucius Tarquinius Superbus](/source/Lucius_Tarquinius_Superbus), was removed from power and the [Roman Republic](/source/Roman_Republic) was established.<ref name="Cary">Cary, M.; Scullard, H. H., ''A History of Rome.'' Page 28. 3rd Ed. 1979. {{ISBN|0-312-38395-9}}.</ref> The Etruscans are credited with influencing Roman architecture and ritual practice; it was under the Etruscan kings that important structures such as the [Capitolium](/source/Temple_of_Jupiter_(Capitoline_Hill)), [Cloaca Maxima](/source/Cloaca_Maxima), and [Via Sacra](/source/Via_Sacra) were realized.

The [Etruscan civilization](/source/Etruscan_civilization) had a great influence on the culture of early Republican Rome, some of what later became the most symbolic traditions of the city. It also included the introduction of new foods, the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet), the [architecture](/source/architecture), and [engineering](/source/civil_engineering) elements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roma.Com |first=Redazione |date=2021-08-04 |title=L'influenza della civiltà etrusca sugli antichi Romani |url=https://www.roma.com/linfluenza-della-civilta-etrusca-sugli-antichi-romani/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Roma.Com |language=it}}</ref>

==Territorial subdivision of Etruria==
Etruria usually is divided into two main territories, called Northern Etruria and Southern Etruria, to which must be added the northernmost territories are called Etruria Padana, and the southernmost territories are called Etruria Campana.
; '''Etruria''' (proper):
* '''Northern Etruria''' - much of modern [Tuscany](/source/Tuscany), from the [Arno river](/source/Arno) to the north, the [Apennines](/source/Apennine_Mountains) to the east, and the [Albegna river](/source/Albegna) to the south of Tuscany; 
* '''Inner Etruria''' - the Etruscan territories in the Perugia area in modern western [Umbria](/source/Umbria)
* '''Southern Etruria''' - small portions of the most southern areas of Tuscany, all of northern and central [Lazio](/source/Lazio) to the gates of [Rome](/source/Rome)
; Etruscan colonies:
{{See also|Etruscan cities#Etruria Padana|Etruscan cities#Etruria Campana}}
* '''[Etruria Padana](/source/Etruria_Padana)''' (Padanian Etruria) - territories in [Emilia-Romagna](/source/Emilia-Romagna) and in the southern extremity of [Lombardy](/source/Lombardy) and [Veneto](/source/Veneto), in northern Italy
* '''Etruria Campana''' (Campanian Etruria) - territories in southern [Lazio](/source/Lazio) and [Campania](/source/Campania), in southern Italy

==Cities of Etruria==
thumb|right|300px|Etruscan votive heads found in various sanctuaries throughout Etruria and dating from the fourth century BC through the second century BC
{{main|Etruscan cities}}
Latin and Italian names are given between parentheses:
* [Arritim](/source/Arezzo) (Arretium, '''Arezzo''')
* [Atria](/source/Adria) ('''Adria''')
* [Caisra](/source/Cerveteri) (Caere, '''Cerveteri''')
* [Clevsin](/source/Chiusi) (Clusium, '''Chiusi''')
* [Curtun](/source/Cortona) (Cortonium, '''Cortona''')
* [Felathri](/source/Volterra) (Volaterrae, '''Volterra''')
* [Fufluna](/source/Populonia) (Populonium, '''Populonia''')
* [Parusia](/source/Perugia) (Perusia, '''Perugia''')
* [Tarchna](/source/Terracina) ([Volscian](/source/Volscian_language) Anxur) (Tarracina, '''Terracina''')
* [Tarchnal](/source/Tarquinia) (Tarquinii, '''Tarquinia''')
* [Veii](/source/Veii) (Veii, Veio)
* [Vetluna](/source/Vetluna) (Vetulonium, '''Vetulonia'''), now part of the comune of [Castiglione della Pescaia](/source/Castiglione_della_Pescaia)
* [Vipsul](/source/Fiesole) (Faesulae, '''Fiesole''')
* [Velch](/source/Volci) (Vulci, '''Volci''')
* [Velzna](/source/Volsinii) (Volsiniia, '''Volsinii''')

There was a period between 600 BC and 500 BC, during which twelve Etruscan city-states formed a loose confederation known as the [Etruscan League](/source/Etruscan_civilization). Etruscan was the official language for their meetings. When Etruria was conquered by the [Roman Republic](/source/Roman_Republic), [Latin](/source/Latin) became the official language.

==Roman Etruria==
In the [Augustan](/source/Augustus) organization of [Roman Italy](/source/Roman_Italy), ''Etruria'' was the name of a region (Regio VII). Its borders were the [Tiber](/source/Tiber), the [Tyrrhenian Sea](/source/Tyrrhenian_Sea), the [Apuan Alps](/source/Apuan_Alps), and the [Apennines](/source/Apennines). This is roughly coincident with those of Etruria before the Roman period that began in 509 BC.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Baracca|first1=M.|title=Atlante Storico|date=1970|publisher=De Agostini|location=Novara|page=15|language=Latin}}</ref>

==Etruria in modern history==
The [Grand Duchy of Tuscany](/source/Grand_Duchy_of_Tuscany) (which existed 1569–1801 and 1814–1859) styled itself in [Latin](/source/Latin) as ''Magnus Ducatus Etruriae'' (Grand Duchy of Etruria). The name Etruria also was applied to the [Kingdom of Etruria](/source/Kingdom_of_Etruria), an ephemeral [client state](/source/client_state) of [Napoleon I of France](/source/Napoleon_I_of_France) that replaced the Grand Duchy between 1801 and 1807.

A particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is [D. H. Lawrence](/source/D._H._Lawrence)'s ''[Sketches of Etruscan Places and Other Italian Essays](/source/Sketches_of_Etruscan_Places_and_Other_Italian_Essays)''.

British explorer [George Dennis](/source/George_Dennis_(explorer)) explored the ruins and sites of the region in the 1840s producing ''Cities and cemeteries of Etruria'', published in 1848 by the British Museum, and including sketches by Dennis and [Samuel James Ainsley](/source/Samuel_James_Ainsley).

==Further reading==
*{{cite book| title = An Ancient and Modern History of Etruria | last = Coberly| first =Daniel | author-link = Daniel Leo Coberly | isbn = 978-0-615-81911-2| year=2013| publisher = Italian Heritage Press}}

==See also==
* [Padanian Etruria](/source/Padanian_Etruria)
* [Etruscan history](/source/Etruscan_history)
* [Etruscan origins](/source/Etruscan_origins)
* [Etruscan cities](/source/Etruscan_cities)
* [Etruscan civilization](/source/Etruscan_civilization)
* [Etruscan society](/source/Etruscan_society)
* [Etruscan language](/source/Etruscan_language)
* [Etruscan mythology](/source/Etruscan_mythology)
* [Kingdom of Etruria](/source/Kingdom_of_Etruria)
* [Tuscia](/source/Tuscia)

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1=Bonfante|first1=Giuliano|author-link=Giuliano Bonfante |last2=Bonfante|first2=Larissa|author2-link=Larissa Bonfante |title=The Etruscan Language: an Introduction|location=Manchester|publisher=Manchester U.P.|year=2003|isbn=0-7190-5540-7}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Hall|editor-first=John F.|title=Etruscan Italy: Etruscan Influences on the Civilizations of Italy from Antiquity to the Modern Era|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1996|isbn=978-0-8425-2334-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/etruscanitaly00john/page/411}} Chronology of Etruscan Italy, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bUhT7i7XhOAC&pg=PA367|p.96].
* {{cite web|title=Etruria|publisher =Treccani.it |lang=it|work=Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/etruria|ref={{harvid|Treccani}}}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary}}
* [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/_Periods/Roman/Archaic/Etruscan/_Texts/DENETR*/home.html Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria], by [George Dennis](/source/George_Dennis_(explorer)), an overview of Etruscan civilisation
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Etruria|short=x}}
* [https://lifebeyondtheroom.com/etruscan-cerveteri-an-ancient-civilization/ "The Mysteries of Etruscan Cerveteri: A Walk Through an Ancient Civilization"] . ''transferinrome.cab'' - 2023-06-30

{{Etruscans}}
{{coord missing|Italy}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Geographical, historical and cultural regions of Italy
Category:Etruria
Category:Italian states
Etruscan sites
Category:History of Umbria
Category:Villanovan culture

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Etruria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruria) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruria?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
