- The Etruscans constructed elaborate underground chamber tombs, known as necropoli, to bury their dead.
- These tombs were dug into the volcanic rock or tufa found in their region, particularly around the cities of Cerveteri and Tarquinia.
Rock-Cut Facades:
- The entrances to the tombs often featured impressive rock-cut facades that imitated the form of a temple with pillars and sloping roofs.
- These elaborate facades reflected the architectural prowess of the Etruscans.
Painting and Decoration:
- The interiors of the tombs were richly decorated with frescoes, wall paintings, and carvings.
- The artwork depicted scenes from daily life, religious ceremonies, myths, banquets, and funerary rituals.
- The decorations reflect the beliefs, values, and funerary practices of the Etruscan civilization.
Chamber and Corridor Tombs:
- There were two primary types of tombs: chamber tombs, which had multiple rooms, and corridor tombs, which consisted of a long, narrow corridor lined with burial niches.
- The size and complexity of the tombs varied depending on the social status of the deceased.
Sarcophagi and Urns:
- The deceased were often buried in stone or terracotta sarcophagi or urns.
- The sarcophagi were elaborately carved and decorated, often with recumbent figures of the deceased on the lids.
- Urns were containers used for cremated remains.
Personal Belongings:
- Grave goods were placed in the tombs alongside the deceased.
- These grave goods included pottery, jewelry, household utensils, weapons, mirrors, and other personal items.
- The types and quantities of grave goods reflected the wealth and social position of the deceased.
Symbolism and Mythology:
- The decorations, grave goods, and arrangement of the tombs reveal the complex religious and mythological beliefs of the Etruscans.
- Symbolic objects, such as the winged horse, the tree of life, and scenes of the underworld, feature prominently in Etruscan funerary art.