Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol The cities and cemeteries of Etruria Dennis, George 1883 Contents of Volume I urn:nbn:at:at-ubi:2-12107 CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. INTRODUCTION. PAGI Kecent researches into the inner life of the Etruscans —Nature of the docu¬ ments whence our knowledge is acquired —Monumental Chronicles—Object of this work to give facts, not theories—Geographical position and extent of Etruria —Its three grand divisions—Etruria Proper , its boundaries and geological features —The Twelve Cities of the Confederation—Ancient and modern condition of the land—Position of Etruscan cities —Origin of the Etruscan race—Ancient traditions —Theories of Niebuhr , Muller , Lepsius, and others—The Lydian origin probable —Oriental character of the Etrus¬ cans—Analogies in their religion and customs to those of the East —Their language still a mystery —The Etruscan alphabet and numerals —Govern¬ ment of Etruria —Convention of her princes—Lower orders enthralled-1— Religion of Etruria , its effects on her political and social state—Mytho¬ logical system—The Three great Deities—The Twelve Dii Consentes—The shrouded Gods—The Nine thunder -wielding Gods—Other divinities —Fates —Genii—Lares and Lasas—Gods of the lower world—Extent and nature of Etruscan civilization —Literature —Science—Commerce—Physical con¬ veniences—Seweiage—Roads—Tunnels—Luxury —The Etruscans superior to the Greeks in their treatment of woman—Arts of Etruria —Architecture —To be learned chiefly from tombs—Walls of cities—Gates—The arch in Italy worked out by the Etruscans —Sepulchres—Peculiarities which dis¬ tinguish them from the Roman—Imitations of temples or houses—Plastic arts —Character and styles of Etruscan art —Works in terra -cotta—In bronze—Statues and various implements —Works in wood and stone— Sepulchral sculpture— Scarabei —Mirrors and Caskets, with incised designs —Jewellery —The pictorial art in Etruria —Painted tombs—Varieties of style—Pottery of Etruria —Earliest ware not painted , but incised, stamped, or relieved —Painted vases classified and described—Why placed in sepulchres—Tombs rifled in bygone times—Vases of native or Greek manufacture ?—Attic character of the painted vases—Etruscan imitations of Greek vases—The Etruscans maligned by the Greeks and Romans— European civilization indebted to Etruria —Pre-eminence of Tuscan intellect in all ages . .......... xxv Appendix. Greek and Etruscan vases classified according to form and use . cv xii CONTEXTS. CHAPTER I. VEIL— The City. PAGES Historical interest of Veii—Site determined to be near Isola Famese —First view of Veii—Isola—The mill—Fragments of Walls—Forum of Roman Veii—Piazza d’ Armi, the Arx of Veii—Capture of Veii—The cunieuhts of Camillas—La Scaletta—Columbarium in the cliffs—Ruins of a bridge —Natural bridge called Ponte Sodo—Remains of the ancient walls and gates—Use of bricks —Ponte Formello—Ancient road —Ponte d’ Isola— Antiquity of Etruscan bridges —Extent of the Etruscan city—Past great¬ ness and present desolation—Roman imtnicipium—Progress of destruc¬ tion—Interior of a eapanna —Shepherd life in the Campagna—History of Veii—Fourteen wars with Rome—Heroism and fate of the Fabii— The ten years’ siege—Legend of the Alban Lake—Fall of Veii—Isola Farnese , probably the necropolis of Veii—Hints to travellers . 1 Appendix . Sepulchral niches, and modes of sepulture—Veii one of the Twelve—Isola Farnese not the Arx of Veii, nor the Castle of the Fabii . 26 CHAPTER II. VEIL —The Cemetery. Little to be seen in the necropolis—Sepulchral tumuli —Scenery around Veii —Grotta Campana, a painted tomb—Singular parti -coloured figures— Interpretation of the paintings —Helmet with a death -thrust —Great antiquity of the tomb proved by the paintings and masonry—Sepulchral pottery and urns—Analogy between tombs and houses—No epitaph for the Etruscan hero ............ 31 CHAPTER III. CASTEL GIUBILEO .—FIDENJ2. The banks of the Tiber—Site of Antemnse—Anglo-Roman sports—Campagna scenes and sounds—Sites of ancient deeds—Ponte Salaro—Site and vestiges of Fidenae—Historical notices—A panorama ..... 43 Appendix . The eight captures of Fidenae ....... 53 CHAPTER IY. MONTE MUSINO and LAGO DI BBACCIANO. Vandals in Italy —Galera —Via Clodia—Baccano and its lake —Monte Razzano—Campagnano—Monte Musino— Popular legends-rScrofano— Lake of Bracciano — Site of Sabate discovered —Aquae Apollinares— Curious deposit of coins—Forum Clodii—Shores of the lake . 54 Appendix . The Via Clodia, from Rome to Cosa . 61 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER Y. SUTRI.—SUTRIUM. PAGE Le Sette Yene—Monterosi—Ronciglione—Site of Satrium—Ancient walls, sewers,and gates—ViUage antiquaries—History of Sutrium—Alliance with Rome—The proverb, Ire Sutrium —Rock-hewn church—Catacombs— Amphitheatre of Sutri—Roman or Etruscan?—Its peculiarities and beauty —Tombs in the Cliffs—Grotta d’ Orlando—Legends of Sutri—Cave of the Madonna—Capranica—Vicus Matrini—Road to Vetralla . 62 Appendix . Emplecton masonry ......... 80 CHAPTER VI. NEPI.—NEPETE. Park-like scenery—Nepi—Remains of its ancient walls—Picturesque ravines— Few traces of the necropolis—The modem town—History of Nepete. 82 CHAPTER VII. CIVITA CASTELLANA.—FALERII (VETERE8). Road from Nepi—Beauties of the Campagna—Civita much visited, but little explored-—Etruscan walls and tombs—Glen of the Treia—Glen of the Saleto—Walls and tombs—Conical pit sepulchres—Ponte Terrano— Curious cemetery in the cliffs—Shafts or chimneys—Etruscan or Faliscan inscriptions on the rocks—The viaduct—Beauties of the ravines around Civita—A word to travellers ......... 87 CHAPTER VIII. FALLERI.—FALERII (NO VI). Tombs with porticoes—Singular inscription on an Etrusco-Roman tomb— Walls and towers of Fallen—Porta di Giove—Cliffs with sepulchral niches—Porta del Bove—Magnificent piece of walling—Extent of the city—Theatre—Convent of Sta. Maria di Falleri—Is the city Etruscan or Roman?—Historical notices of Falerii—The three cities of the Falisci— Legend of the treacherous schoolmaster—The city rebuilt on a lower site —Civita Castellana an Etruscan, Falleri a Roman site—Shepherd-guides . 97 Appendix. The three towns of the Falisci—Falerii one of the Twelve_ iEquum Faliscum—Falleri not the Etruscan Falerii ..... 112 CHAPTER IX. FESOENNIUM. Historical notices—Site of Fescennium uncertain—Beauty of the Ager Faliscus —Peculiarities of the scenery—Corchiano—Etruscan remains—Etruscan 51V CONTENTS. PAGE inscription carved on the rock —Ancient roads and watercourses —Tomb with a portico and inscription —Via Amerina —Gallese—Vignanello— Soriano—Discovery of an Etruscan city —Fine relic of the ancient walls— The city is probably Fescennium , or JEquum Faliscum . - . • . 115 CHAPTER X. FERONIA and CAP ENA. History of Capena—Its site—Difficult of access—Legend of St. Domenick _Soracte —View from the ascent —Convents on the summit —S. Oreste —Probably an Etruscan site, and Feronia —The shrine of Feronia —■ Geology of Soracte—Travellers ’ trials —Local remains at Capena—Cha¬ racter of the site—Scenery of this district —Rignano —Ruins at S. Abondio —Wolves of Soracte, ancient and modern —Fire -proof feet —Tombs of Sabina .............. 124 CHAPTER XI. ORTE.—EORTA. Voyage up the Tiber—Beauty of this river scenery—Views of Soracte —Posi¬ tion of Horta —Locanda della Campana —Scanty records —Local anti¬ quaries —The necropolis — Excavations — Curious relics of antiquity— Castellum Amerinum —The Vadimonian Lake —Pliny ’s description of it _Its actual condition —Why chosen as battle -ground —Vale of the Tiber —Bassano—Via Amerina .......... 136 CHAPTER XII. MONTE CIMINO .—MONS ClMINUS. Xake of Vico—View from the summit of the Pass—The great Etruscan plain— Etruria as it was, and is .......... 146 CHAPTER XIII. VITERBO .—SURR1NA. Local chroniclers —Annio of Viterbo , and his forgeries —Viterbo claims to be the Fanum Voltumnas—More probably occupies the site of Surrina— Vestiges of an Etruscan town —The Museum of Etruscan relics —Tire Bazzichelli Collection—Tomb of the beautiful Galiana —Lions of Viterbo . 150 CHAPTER XIV. FERENTO .—FERENTINUM. Numerous Etruscan remains around Viterbo —Bacucco —Historical notices of Ferentinum —Remains on the site—The Theatre —Its sccna—Peculiar gateways —Series of arches —Architectural renown of Ferentinum —Sin¬ gular sepulchres entered by wells—Vitorchiano ...... 156 CONTENTS. xv CHAPTEE XY. BOMARZO. page 'The by-roads of Italy—Scanty accommodation—Bomarzo—Etruscan town in the neighbourhood—Name unknown—Excavations in the necropolis— Grotta della Colonna—Rusticated masonry—Grotta Dipinta—Ancient caricatures—Sea-horses and water-snakes—Serpents on Etruscan monu¬ ments—Curious sarcophagus—Characteristicsof the tombs of Bomarzo—• Sepulchral furniture—An alphabet potted for posterity—Return to Yiterbo by the Ciminian ............ 1G4 CHAPTEE XYI. CASTEL D’ ASSO.—CASTELL JJM AXIA. The cicerone—The Bulicame—The Etruscan plain—Sepulchral glens—A street of tombs—Sculptured facades, like houses—Moulded doorways—Inscrip¬ tions—Sepulchral interiors—Economy of space—Produce of this necro¬ polis—Sepulchral varieties—The site is but recently discovered—Antiquity of the tombs—Site of the Etruscan town—Not the Fanum Voltumnae— More probably is Castellum Axia—Tombs in the neighbourhood . 175 Appendix. Etruscan mouldings—Inscriptions .. ..... 186 CHAPTEE XVII. MUSARNA. Etruscan town discovered in 1850 by Signor Bazzichelli—Position of the town —Walls—Gates—Two Castles—The Cemetery—Excavations and their results—Name of Musarna very doubtful ....... 188 CHAPTEE XVIII. NORCHIA.—OILCLEf This necropolis is of recent discovery—Road