85133 - Archaeology of the Etruscan City

Learning outcomes

The course offers a broad perspective on the archeology of the city in Etruria, a fundamental aspect of Etruscan civilization according to literary sources and archaeological reality.  The course aims to conduct the analysis of the Etruscan city, understood in general terms as institutional reality, in its topographical, ritual and functional aspects and, secondly, the planimetric, monumental, cultural and architectural aspects of the main cities of the Etruscan Po Valley, Tyrrhenian Etruria and Campania. At the end of the course, the student is thoroughly acquainted with the physiognomy of the Etruscan city and is able to navigate within this reality, including its institutional features and specific meanings. In addition, the student is able to recognize the main monumental aspects of the individual cities of Etruria. Finally, the course aims to make the student capable of conducting independent research on issues related to the topic of teaching. In order to achieve this fundamental goal during the course, we provide essential methodological and bibliographic tools.

Course contents

The course will introduce the following topics:

 

• The Etruscans and the city:

- The foundation and planning of the city;

- The space of the sacred;

- The necropolis;

- The space for living and for the craftsmanship;

- The city and the territory.

 

• Layout and monuments of the cities of Etruria:

- Tyrrhenian Etruria;

- Po Valley;

- Campania.

 

• Focus on a single city of Etruria (a different city every year).

Readings/Bibliography

• Readings on the Etruscan city and its spaces:

G. Sassatelli, Culti e riti in Etruria Padana: qualche considera­zione, in Anathema: regime delle offerte e vita dei santuari nel Mediterraneo Antico (Atti del Convegno Internazionale, Roma, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Giugno 1989), in «ScAnt» 3-4, 1989-1990 (1992), pp. 599-617.

E. Govi (a cura di), La città etrusca e il sacro. Santuari e istituzioni politiche (Atti del Convegno, Bologna 2016), Bologna 2017.

G. Sassatelli, Topografia e sistemazione monumentale delle necropoli felsinee, in La formazione della città preromana in Emilia Romagna (Atti del Convegno, Bologna 1985), Bologna 1987, pp. 197-259.

B. d'Agostino 1996, La necropoli e i rituali della morte, in S. Settis (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte e società, II.1, Torino 1996, pp. 435-470.

L. Donati, Architettura civile, sacra e domestica, in Gli Etruschi (Catalogo della Mostra, Venezia 2000), Milano 2000, pp. 313-334.

E. Govi, L'architettura domestica di Marzabotto tra vecchi scavi e nuove indagini, in Dalla capanna al palazzo. Edilizia abitativa nell'Italia preromana "Annali Faina 23", 2016, pp. 187-241.

 

• Reading on specific cities of Etruria:

S. Bruni (a cura di), Gli Etruschi delle città, Cinisello Balsamo 2010.

 

• A bibliography concerning the study of a specific city of the Etruria will be indicated in class.

 

Students, who do not attend the lessons, must contact the Teacher by email to define a supplementary bibliography to study.

 

Students, who did not attend a course of Etruscology before, must integrate their knowledge of the Etruscan culture reading and studying one of the three following books:

- G. Bartoloni (a cura di), Introduzione all'Etruscologia, Milano 2012

or

- G. Camporeale, Gli Etruschi. Storia e civiltà, Torino 2015 (o edizioni precedenti).

Teaching methods

Lectures, beginning from 10:15. Attending the lesson is highly recommended.

Students will have the chance to practice in laboratory (see the didactic proposals of the Department of Archaeology) or to partecipate in the annual archaeological excavations in the Etruscan city of Marzabotto.

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral test concerning history, evolution of the Etruscan cities and their artistic productions. Familiarity and deep knowledge of indicated bibliography and of topics covered during lectures are required. Three general questions are the starting point of a more detailed discussion.

The overall evaluation will consider the following parameters:

- an excellent knowledge of the topics, the ability to analyse themes, to refer them by using the field-specific terminology and to discuss specific issues critically, arguing their own opinion, will be rewarded with an excellent mark.

- a mnemonic knowledge of the subject with the ability to analyse, with correct, although not always field-specific command of the language will be rewarded with a 'fair' mark.

- minimal knowledge of the subject will not be enough to pass the exam.

Teaching tools

During the lessons visual aids will be widely used, especially slides and projections from computer.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Pizzirani