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Etruscans in Rome: Discovering Villa Giulia with Livia Galante

Etruscans in Rome: Discovering Villa Giulia with Livia Galante


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Before Rome started to exist, a brilliant civilization once controlled almost the entire peninsula we now call Italy. This was the Etruscan civilization, a vanished culture whose achievements set the stage not only for the development of ancient Roman art and culture but for the Italian Renaissance as well. Etruscan influence on ancient Roman culture was profound and it was from the Etruscans that the Romans inherited many of their own cultural and artistic traditions, from the spectacle of gladiatorial combat to hydraulic engineering, temple design, and religious ritual, among many other things. In fact, hundreds of years after the Etruscans had been conquered by the Romans and absorbed into their empire, the Romans still maintained an Etruscan priesthood in Rome. 

This talk aims to recount this amazing civilization through the crafts, which are beautifully displayed in the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, a magnificent Renaissance estate, built by Pope Julius III during his pontificate (1550-1555) and designed by the famous architects Giorgio Vasari, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, and Bartolomeo Ammanati, with Michelangelo to advise them. The National Etruscan Museum of Villa, among the absolute masterpieces recounting about this quite refined civilization, include the clay Sarcophagus of the Spouses from Cerveteri (530 BC); the clay statue of Apollo (VI century BC); the painted terracotta relief depicting the myth of the Seven against Thebes (470-460 BC); the pure gold foil from Pyrgi, with inscriptions in Phoenician and Etruscan (late 6th century BC); the Ficoroni cist from Palestrina (late IV century BC); and the celebrated gold jewelry from the Castellani collection. 

Led by an expert on Ancient Roman Topography, Livia Galante, this Conversation will focus on the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the importance of the Etruscan civilization as well as of the beauty of the Renaissance Villa where the crafts are displayed. 

Livia obtained a degree in Archaeology at the Sapienza University of Rome and has a Master's degree in the History and Conservation of Cultural Heritage from the University of Roma Tre. Her main field of interest is ancient Roman topography and early Christian architecture; however, she is an accomplished scholar whose teaching ability extends to the Renaissance and Baroque Rome. As a native Roman, Livia is very enthusiastic about sharing the deep love and knowledge she has for her hometown with clients.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
0%
(0)
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L
Laurie (Saint Paul, US)
Excellent

Excellent and very interesting presentation!

G
Gay Lutton (Jersey City, US)
Etruscan civilization review

I have always been fascinated by the Etruscan civilization underneath the Roman one. Thus was a fairly comprehensive but well organized and succinct overview. It is even more interesting than I had realized. Well done!

J
Julie Goldman (San Francisco, US)
The Etruscans with Livia Galante

Ms Galante is always so thorough the thoughtful imparting interesting information and beautiful photographs. Thank you

M
Maria Victor-Smith (Stoneham, US)
Great subject —- the Etruscans

Loved it. So interesting. Didn’t realize the interactions with the Phoenicians.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
Laurie (Saint Paul, US)
Excellent

Excellent and very interesting presentation!

G
Gay Lutton (Jersey City, US)
Etruscan civilization review

I have always been fascinated by the Etruscan civilization underneath the Roman one. Thus was a fairly comprehensive but well organized and succinct overview. It is even more interesting than I had realized. Well done!

J
Julie Goldman (San Francisco, US)
The Etruscans with Livia Galante

Ms Galante is always so thorough the thoughtful imparting interesting information and beautiful photographs. Thank you

M
Maria Victor-Smith (Stoneham, US)
Great subject —- the Etruscans

Loved it. So interesting. Didn’t realize the interactions with the Phoenicians.