The Language of Etrusco-Italic Architecture: New Perspectives on Tuscan Temples Author(s): Ingrid Edlund-Berry Source: American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 112, No. 3 (Jul., 2008), pp. 441-447 Published by: Archaeological Institute of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20627482 Accessed: 09-06-2015 17:52 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Archaeological Institute of America is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to American Journal of Archaeology. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.83.205.78 on Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:52:08 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions The Language of Etrusco-Italic Architecture: New Perspectives on Tuscan Temples INGRID EDLUND-BERRY Abstract tectura(4.7.1-5)1 and, inhis footsteps, by architectural historians and the centuries. One detail of the so-called Tuscan temple is the Etrus archaeologists through can monu I one round moulding, known from Etruria and Instead, address issue?seemingly minute?that ments in Rome. The earliest preserved example (sixth had a considerable role in determining the function century B.C.E.) comes from S. Omobono in Rome, fol of the Tuscan temple in different geographical, cul lowed Satricum, Ardea, and by Pyrgi, Tarquinia through and contexts: Etruscan tural, chronological the round the fourth century B.C.E. As Rome expanded its politi cal interests in the third century B.C.E., newly founded moulding. were one colonies equipped with major temples (Capitolia) As iswell known, of the characteristic features of that had a Tuscan and often Etruscan round mould plan theTuscan (later,Roman) temple plan was the raised (Sora, Isernia). in the second ings Beginning century podium, made of cut blocks?with steps at one short B.C.E., new construction or of often remodeling temples end?on which the rested.2 a re temple building proper displayed parallel traditions, including Roman cyma versa or an Whether created to enhance the of the (Paestum) Etruscan round podium moulding visibility temple The of the Etruscan structure at or some (Cosa). presence round mouldings (e.g., the Capitolium Ostia) for is not when Rome establishes its own ar arbitrary. Only other reason, such as the leveling of the ground, the reversa chitectural language through the cyma moulding raised is all we have leftof such once do we see that it has shed its on the and platform usually dependence past monuments dedicated to of an own as as impressive the deities reached its goals, political well architectural.* Etruscan or Etrusco-Italic city. Depending on the use of local stone and the layout Thanks toLarissa Bonfante 's insightful research on of the terrain, these platforms or podia consisted of of Etruscan we can several of stone on the with many aspects culture, appreciate layers outside, support its significance for a variety of cultural expressions ing stretches of wall or rubble occupying the center. a within ancient Italy.As new discoveries are made, and Seen from distance, the platform provided the level research and reevaluation of Etruscan monuments and foundation for the building proper and was often but artifacts continue, the opportunities for appreciating not alwaysmarked with a rounded moulding (the so the complexity of political and social interactions be called Etruscan round), indicating the transition be tween different of ever-increas tween the groups people provide supporting podium and the foundation for ing challenges. As an example of such a complexity, I the temple building.3 focus here on the so-called Tuscan temples and their The earliest preserved evidence of a Tuscan-type role as statements of religious and political dominance temple with suchmouldings comes from the site of S. within Etruria and central Italy. Omobono, below the Capitoline Hill inRome. There, a in of Byway of recusatio,I stress that the topic here isnot spite very complicated excavations underneath the plan or proportions of the Tuscan temple as first the present church, small sections of twophases of the discussed by theRoman architect Vitruvius inDe archi archaic temple podium can be documented.4 * I thank Helen the in (Iii) Nagyfor organizing panel honor Edlund-Berry 2000). This type of moulding is often referred of Larissa Bonfante on the occasion of her the Gold to as a toro in receiving (torusin Latin) Italian texts, and its shape is dif Medal for Achievement of the ferent from of the Distinguished Archaeological that Greek ovolo (Meritt and Edlund-Berry Institute of America. I am also to use Archaeological grateful Jane 2000, xiii). Meritt grappled with the of "Etruscan" for this Moore of Texas at for the occurs areas (the University Austin) preparing type of moulding, since it in that were inhabited illustrations for In I follow as as publication. this article, Meritt's primarily by Etruscans well in areas that were dominated of rather than the of spelling "moulding" AJA style ("molding"), by speakers Latin and other central Italian languages. 4 since in her rather than The of the two are terminology, "moulding" "molding" precise dates phases of this temple refers to a curved feature that is of a block. part building disputed, but they fall within the early and late sixth centu Rowland and Howe 73. 1999,60-1, fig. ry B.C.E., respectively (Gjerstad 1960, 380-86, 245, 246; 2 figs. For an overall of see study Etruscan temples, Colonna Pisani Sartorioand Virgili 1979;Comune di Roma 1989;Col 2006. onna 1991; Musei 2005, 132-33; Colonna 2006, 3 Capitolini The term "Etruscan round" is used Meritt and by (Meritt 154-55; Winter [forthcoming]). 441 AmericanJournal ofArchaeology 112 (2008) 441-47 This content downloaded from 128.83.205.78 on Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:52:08 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 442 INGRID EDLUND-BERRY [AJA 112 Since thispodium is so poorly preserved, it isdifficult to round was cut evaluate exactly how the moulding (fig. 1) ,5but the profile suggests that the bottom block projected beyond the round and that the intervening blocks were set furtherback. In the second phase of the same temple, the single round developed into a double and was set firmlyon one projecting block below. As documented byMeritt, these round mouldings ex press a practice that is totallyforeign toGreek architec in terms of and tural traditions placement execution, not tomention the use of a platform or podium. The purpose of themoulding was to provide the transition from one set of blocks to another, and the profile was executed by cutting back from the vertical line of the blocks until the desired curve had been achieved. 0 50 100 cm I_i_I were not Since the Etruscans known for conformity or predictability in terms of their architecture?or else for thatmatter?it should not anything surprise Fig. 1. Profile drawing of archaic temples at S. Omobono, us a use that there is definite lack of consistency in the Rome (modified from Gjerstad 1960, figs. 245,246; Colonna Comune di Roma (or non-use) of thesemouldings. Due to the arbitrary 1991, fig. 1; 1989, pi. 2). status of preservation, we should probably not assign toomuch significance to the fact that the archaic tem at Omobono the earliest two blocks?one of which an ple S. represents preserved fragmentary preserves been assembled to podium mouldings to date. Etruscan round moulding?have A podium moulding similar to that of the first type form part of the podium of thisTuscan temple, dated a ca. 460B.C.E. from S. Omobono?with vertical podium profile (fig. 3).9 crowned by a round?may also be found inTemple I The second typeof temple foundation from S. Omo at Satricum, south of Rome (also known as the "sacel bono?with a low podium marked with large, curved or can to the of that becomes lum" Temple 0), and be dated 550-540 rounds?preserves type moulding a was the hallmark of Etruscan seen not in B.C.E.6 A rounded fragment of such moulding architecture, only there in the late excavations. In in as those from La found 19th-century temple podia but also altars such ear the excavation report, published inNotizie degli scavi vinium, Orvieto, and Fiesole.10 The chronologically di antichit? for 1896,7 the fragmentwas reconstructed liest such temple podium, following the temple from as part of a sequence placed between an angular block S. Omobono, comes from Ardea, a town to the south and a hawksbeak moulding underneath (fig. 2). More of Rome known for its citywall and several temples.11 Colonna has a reconstruc One of these known as Casalinaccio or Civita recently, however, proposed temples, was shows a with massive Etruscan round tion that suggests that the round protruding from vecchia, podium a vertical set of blocks forming the podium.8 mouldings on the preserved short and long sides (fig. A similar reconstruction has been suggested, also by 4). It is commonly dated to the sixth century B.C.E., Colonna, for fragments found at Temple A at Pyrgi, the but a later date of 480 B.C.E. has also been suggested on coast Rome. Etruscan sanctuary the north of There, by Colonna.12 5 are them in full scale.