Etruscans Now
Mythology
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Natalie Stevens - Leiden University
Symbolic values of mythological representations on hellenistic urns from Chiusi
Circa 130 alabaster urns with (Greek) mythological, and a few with non-mythological scenes, from the Etruscan Hellenistic period have been preserved from the territory of Chiusi. This paper will be confined to those with mythological scenes which were produced over a period of three generations and may be dated on several grounds to between c.250 and 175 BC.
Without exception the scenes on the urns are cruel and bloody: sacrifices, duels and other tragic climactic moments. It is open to question why the artisans in Chiusi (and in Volterra and Perugia too, presumably under the influence of Chiusi) have chosen such scenes to decorate the urns. In other words, what is the relationship between the mythological scenes and the funerary nature of the artefacts? Did they have symbolic values? There are currently two main theories: (1) according to F.de Angelis, it could have been a question of a negative paradigm, in which the scenes derived from family tragedies, could have been for the living; (2) D.Steuernagel supposes that the choice of scenes depends on similarities of composition and less on the contents of the myth. The general theme being respect or disrespect of the asylum in a sacred place - at least for the altar scenes: warriors attack a victim who flees an altar, placed in the centre of the composition. Steuernagel relates the scenes to the contemporary political situation.
Both interpretations are not completely convincing. Moreover, did the interest in themes and even symbolic values change during the three generations? A new proposal will be put forward.