Why the Romans Don’t Want You to Know About the Etruscans
They’re the influential civilization hardly anyone’s heard of. Time to redress the balance.
The Romans. Famous for their straight roads, underfloor central heating, emperors, gladiators, cities, togas… Ask who invented something ancient and clever, and a spectral Roman arm will rise up from the annals of history and stake claim.
But none of the above ideas are Roman, even though they want us to believe they are. They have tried to erase the real founding civilization from getting the credit they deserve.
Well, enough is enough.
Step forward Etruscans. It’s your well-deserved turn in the spotlight.
Etruria
The Etruscans were an ancient and powerful pre-Roman civilization who lived in Etruria. If Italy is a thigh-high boot, then Etruria is an inverted triangle which begins just above the front of the ankle and swoops upwards and across the thigh to the Veneto. Although there is evidence of Etruscan inhabitation at either end of Italy, the real focus is in north Lazio, Tuscany and western Umbria.
“They are the teachers of our teachers”
