Archaeological and Literary Etruscans: Constructions of Etruscan Identity in the First Century Bce
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND LITERARY ETRUSCANS: CONSTRUCTIONS OF ETRUSCAN IDENTITY IN THE FIRST CENTURY BCE John B. Beeby A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Classics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Chapel Hill 2019 Approved by: James B. Rives Jennifer Gates-Foster Luca Grillo Carrie Murray James O’Hara © 2019 John B. Beeby ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT John B. Beeby: Archaeological and Literary Etruscans: Constructions of Etruscan Identity in the First Century BCE (Under the direction of James B. Rives) This dissertation examines the construction and negotiation of Etruscan ethnic identity in the first century BCE using both archaeological and literary evidence. Earlier scholars maintained that the first century BCE witnessed the final decline of Etruscan civilization, the demise of their language, the end of Etruscan history, and the disappearance of true Etruscan identity. They saw these changes as the result of Romanization, a one-sided and therefore simple process. This dissertation shows that the changes occurring in Etruria during the first century BCE were instead complex and non-linear. Detailed analyses of both literary and archaeological evidence for Etruscans in the first century BCE show that there was a lively, ongoing discourse between and among Etruscans and non-Etruscans about the place of Etruscans in ancient society. My method musters evidence from Late Etruscan family tombs of Perugia, Vergil’s Aeneid, and Books 1-5 of Livy’s history. Chapter 1 introduces the topic of ethnicity in general and as it relates specifically to the study of material remains and literary criticism. Chapter 2 explores the construction of a local Perusine/Etruscan identity within the contexts of Late Etruscan family tomb environments that were in use during the first century BCE. Chapter 3 analyzes how Vergil breaks from literary traditions to elevate his Etruscan characters and create a new place for Etruscans in literature and Roman history. Chapter 4 examines how Livy uses Etruscan characters and places to explore issues related to Roman identity, Roman values, and their development. Taken together, these iii seemingly disparate, interdisciplinary case studies provide significant insight into the same phenomenon—the construction of Etruscan identity in the first century BCE. This dissertation also shows that in addressing broad questions of social and cultural history, archaeological and literary evidence can not only work well together but also work on par with each other. iv In loving memory of Betty Beeby v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The unflagging help of many advisors, colleagues, friends, and family have made this project possible. James Rives deserves my gratitude for being the most patient, kind mentor, for reading and commenting on countless drafts of my work without fail—I could not have asked for a better advisor. My committee members, Jen Gates-Foster, Luca Grillo, Carrie Murray, and James O’Hara gave me much constructive criticism and helpful advice. In addition to my appreciation for the generosity of these faculty members and many others at UNC and elsewhere, I thank the Graduate School for providing me with a grant that helped me make significant progress on this dissertation. I must also thank my fellow graduate students and the many friends I have made during my time in Chapel Hill. This experience was all the more pleasant because of them. My friends were so caring, always willing to lend an ear and to offer words of encouragement and moral support at various times and places over the years. So many people have helped me that I cannot possibly name them all, but they know who they are. Through it all, my immediate and extended family has never wavered in their love for me. My thanks go to Josie and Roy Ellison for everything over the years, to Jane and Salo Suwalsky for helping spark my love for Italy and Classics, and to Leslie Lee for always believing in me. The greatest thanks I reserve for my parents, John and Kathleen Beeby. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Ethnicity and Archaeology .............................................................................................. 7 Ethnicity in Literature .................................................................................................... 22 Structure of Dissertation ................................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER 2: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ETRUSCANS OF PERUGIA ......................................... 32 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 32 Perusine Funerary Practice in the Late Etruscan Period.................................................. 40 Case Studies of Perusine Tomb Contexts ....................................................................... 45 Case Study 1: The Vlesi Family Tomb .............................................................. 45 Case Study 2: The Rafi Family Tomb ............................................................... 54 Case Study 3: The Cai Cutu Family Tomb ........................................................ 68 Other Epigraphic Evidence from Perugia ....................................................................... 81 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 3: ETRUSCAN IDENTITY IN VERGIL’S AENEID .............................................. 88 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 88 Enter Mezentius............................................................................................................. 97 vii Vergil’s New Literary Etruscan ................................................................................... 103 Tarchon, Arruns and Traditional Etruscan Stereotypes................................................. 117 Etruscans in the First Half of the Aeneid ...................................................................... 120 CHAPTER 4: ETRUSCAN IDENTITY IN LIVY’S FIRST PENTAD .................................... 130 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 130 Etruscans and the Beginnings of Rome ........................................................................ 139 Etruscan People ........................................................................................................... 143 Etruscan Places ............................................................................................................ 165 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 182 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 184 APPENDIX: LIVY’S GENEALOGY OF THE TARQUIN FAMILY ..................................... 223 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................... 224 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 – Burials and epitaphs from the Vlesi tomb ................................................................ 192 Table 2 – Burials and epitaphs from the Rafi tomb .................................................................. 193 Table 3 – Burials and epitaphs from the Cai Cutu tomb ........................................................... 195 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 – “Arringatore” ......................................................................................................... 198 Figure 2 – Comparison of Chiusine and Perusine urn shapes ................................................... 199 Figure 3 – Urn of Laetoria Vlesi .............................................................................................. 199 Figure 4 – Urn of Tertia Avilia ................................................................................................ 200 Figure 5 – Urn of L. Scarpus Popa with bilingual inscription................................................... 201 Figure 6 – Figural urn depicting Sacrifice of Iphigenia, Perugia .............................................. 202 Figure 7 – CIE plan of the Vlesi tomb ..................................................................................... 203 Figure 8 – Guardabassi’s plan of the Vlesi tomb ..................................................................... 203 Figure 9 – Urn of Tania Vlesia Scarpes ................................................................................... 204 Figure 10 – Plan of the Rufi tomb ..........................................................................................