Etruscans

Etruscans

The territory known as Eturia evolved sometime during the years of 800 BC. It was located in northeast Italy, from east to west, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and north to south between the Arno and Tiber Rivers. The land measured 94 miles horizontally and 146 miles vertically at its inception. On it’s southern tip of the Tiber River sat the village where Rome would one day be created.
The Etruscans cultural beliefs are similar to the cultural beliefs of the Greeks, Egyptians and people of Asia Minor. A lot of their art is based on their religious beliefs and displays Italian elements. Most of Eturia art, found in present time, has come from tombs in Etruria, or modern day Tuscany. Unlike most Roman Empire buildings, the Etruscans buildings were built of wood and brick. Therefore, no buildings are remaining. Another fact about Etruscan architecture is that their temples were built like the temples of Ancient Greece. The cities were built in the shape of a rectangle with walls enforced with double gates. Just like the buildings of the Etruscans, there are no homes still standing. The alphabet consisted of 20 letters, and has yet to be deciphered, but it is very similar to the Greek alphabet. Etruscan religion was polytheism. A lot of their gods were shared with the Greeks and Romans, and the Etruscans did have some rituals for them. In one ritual they would use clay to make a shape of a part of their body that was injured and offer it to the gods for healing.
The Etruscans influenced the Romans in many ways. They influenced the Roman calendar, architecture, and art. The Romans took the idea of aqueducts, bridges, sewers and even the arch all came from the Etruscans. Also, they both were trading partners with the African city-state of Carthage. The Roman calendar was a lot like that of the Etruscans. The Romans art was a lot like the Etruscans who made realistic sculptures. All this shows how important the Etruscans...