Myths and More on Etruscan Stone Sarcophagi focuses on the chronology
and meaning of representations, in painting or (painted) relief, on one
hundred forty-eight coffins. After the appearance of R. Herbig's
catalogue Die jungeretruskischen Steinsarkophage (Berlin) in 1952 many
new tombs with sarcophagi were discovered. It is therefore worthwile to
review Herbig's chronology and interpretations after a period of fifty
years. It appears that the sarcophagi have been made over a period of
around six generations, between approximately 350 and 200 BC, at a time
which was crucial in the history of Etruria. Between 396 and 264 BC Rome
conquered the Etruscan world. The question is: what impact did this
conquest have on the minds of the Etruscan ruling elite and of the
artisans, at Vulci, Cerveteri, Tarquinia and its hinterlands, at
Orvieto, Chiusi and Volterra? Attention is paid to the find-spots, the
family tombs, the owners of the sarcophagi, as well as to their social
background and civil status. The shift in the choice of themes on the
coffins showing first mythological, then Underworld and so-called
decorative scenes, and the reason for iconographic changes will be
discussed. It will be explained why the choice of mythological themes is
almost entirely limited to Trojan and Theban myths. Non-mythological
scenes, processions and rites of passage, the Underworld, hunting and
battles, including Celtomachies, will also be dealt with. The so-called
heraldic schemes may have a symbolic meaning referring to Dionysiac
pleasures in the Underworld. Finally, the scenes on children's
sarcophagi, with a similar content, are given attention. A catalogue
will list all the Etruscan stone sarcophagi with representations,
providing references to the most modern publications.
