Etruscan Tomb Analysis

In this weeks reading, the artwork that resonated with me most were the Etruscan tombs. As an anthropology student, I am drawn to artwork that is unclear in its meaning, and I am especially drawn to burials. I find it extremely fascinating that we as humans have always placed importance on an afterlife, whether one believes in reincarnation, heaven, or any other type of eternal place of rest. There were three Etruscan tombs described in this chapter: the Tomb of the Reliefs, the Tomb of the Triclinium, and the Reclining Couple on a Sarcophagus. While reading about the Tomb of the Reliefs at Cerveteri, I was blown away by the idea of making a tomb look like a traditional home, as if the deceased would be able to live eternally in their own comfortable home. I also thought the idea of the animal carved into the wall being a family pet was very intriguing - did the Etruscans have family pets? This is a concept that I am very curious about. The extreme care in the carving and molding of the tools, furniture, and other household goods is beautiful and comforting. The Dancers and Diners Tomb, or the Tomb of the Triclinium at Tarquinia, also strongly resonated with me. The idea of a tomb being a place of merriment and joy is
I love the jovial expressions on the faces of the couple, and the casual demeanor they possess. The most inviting is the idea of the deceased holding a cup, inviting others to join them for eternity, as the book explains. I think this is an appealing way of cherishing death and the afterlife, rather than avoiding it. Though I picked three pieces of art, I feel as though they are all very closely connected, and are all alluring in similar ways. Death is often looked upon as depressing and somber, but these tombs help comfort the living in knowing that they may be in a similar place someday - dancing, drinking, and enjoying a place they call