The Etruscans: Lost Civilizations

by Lucy Shipley

Now in paperback, a brief introduction to the mysteries of the enigmatic, ancient civilization in the area of modern Italy.

The Etruscans were a powerful people, marked by an influential civilization in ancient Italy. But despite their prominence, the Etruscans are often portrayed as mysterious—a strange and unknowable people whose language and culture have largely vanished. Lucy Shipley’s The Etruscans presents a different picture.

Shipley writes of a people who traded with Greece and shaped the development of Rome, who inspired Renaissance artists and Romantic firebrands, and whose influence is still felt strongly in the modern world. Covering colonialism and conquest, misogyny and mystique, she weaves Etruscan history with new archaeological evidence to give us a revived picture of the Etruscan people. The book traces trade routes and trains of thought, describing the journey of Etruscan objects from creation to use, loss, rediscovery, and reinvention. From the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy displayed in a fashionable salon to the extra-curricular activities of Bonaparte, from a mass looting craze to a bombed museum in a town marked by massacre, the book is an extraordinary voyage through Etruscan archaeology, which ultimately leads to surprising and intriguing places.

In this sharp and groundbreaking book, Shipley gives readers a unique perspective on an enigmatic people, revealing just how much we know about the Etruscans—and just how much still remains undiscovered.

Genres: History

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2024

Reviews

[Pete Missingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting excursion into the Etruscans by way of Napoleon, Twilight and ISIS (Da'esh). All very entertaining with some surprising absences. For example, the Etruscans are famous for their bronze metalworking skills and for their bucchero nero pottery. Both received a perfunctory mention but really needed more space. But the biggest disappointment was the bibliography - the most modern author being Tacitus! Yes, the details are hidden amongst the excellent notes but it would have been nicer to have a proper bibliography.

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read, very accessible and a great introduction to the Etruscans, their origins (disputed), the archaeology and material culture which can be seen in finds and what this tells us about Etruscan life. The book covers many aspects of Etruscan life including religion, the treatment of women, how towns were organised and death rituals. It also looks at the various debates about the Etruscans such as where they originated from and their influence on Greek and Roman culture and their enduring legacy.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome combination of illuminating a little known part of history and connecting it to modern parallels. I love how recent so much of the information is and how the author is constantly putting the ancients aspects of Etruscan culture into historical context of the discoverers and chroniclers. Makes me so keen to explore Tuscany.