Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHERE TO SEE
ANCIENT TUSCANY
The famous bronzes of the
Chimera
and the
Orator
sare in
Florence's Museo Archeo-
logico
(see p99)
. Good
museum collections are in
Fiesole
(pp132-3)
, Volterra
(p166)
, Chiusi
(p228)
,
Cortona
(p204)
and Grosseto
(p238)
. There are tombs at
Vetulonia
(p238)
and Sovana
(p238)
, and the ruins of an
Etruscan town have been
excavated near Roselle
(p238).
Circular Chandelier
Sixteen oil lamps decorate the
rim of this bronze chandelier,
made around 300 BC.
The family
of the deceased
watches the funeral cortège.
Etruscan Rock-cut Tomb
The tombs in Sovana date from
the 3rd century BC
(p238).
Statue of Venus
Under Roman rule,
the Etruscans adopted
new deities like Venus,
goddess of beauty.
Lead Tablet
Etruscan priests recorded details
of their prayers and religious
rites on lead tablets. However,
their language has not yet been
fully deciphered, and many of
their beliefs and traditions are
not yet understood.
Roman Theatre
The bath and theatre complex
excavated in Volterra was built
after Rome conquered the city in
the 4th century BC
(p167).
205 BC
All Tuscany now under Roman control;
the Etruscans forced to pay tribute in bronze, grain and iron
90 BC
Etruscans granted Roman
citizenship, marking the end of
their existence as a distinct culture
AD 250
Christianity
brought to Florence
by Eastern merchants;
St Minias martyred
in the city
AD 313
Constantine grants
official status to
Christianity
200
100
AD 1
100
200
300
400
Bronze of
a Roman
Orator
c. 300 BC
20 BC
Military colony of
Saena (Siena) founded
AD 405
Flavius Stilicho
defeats the Ostrogoths
besieging Florence
59 BC
Florentia (Florence)
founded as a town for
retired Roman army veterans
