Talks

Foundations of an Empire: Examining the Elusive Etruscans

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto, ROM invites you to take a closer look with us at the role the enigmatic Etruscans (900 to 100 BCE) played in laying the foundation for present-day architecture, engineering, and artistic achievements.  

From Central Italy, the Etruscans - or Rasenna as they called themselves – established autonomous city-states in regions now known as Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria, yet never formed a unified nation. They significantly influenced Western culture, particularly in architecture, engineering, urban planning, and art. However, most knowledge of their society derives from material remains found in tombs, temples, and settlements, as well as from Greek and Roman accounts. Their own written records have largely not survived. 

Drawing on the latest archaeological findings and cutting-edge scholarship, join Renée Dreyfus as she leads an illustrated talk that celebrates the most spectacular elements – exquisitely crafted bronze and terracotta sculpture, jewellery, and ceramics – of Etruscan culture. 

Program Partner: 

AND  

Canadian Institute for the Study of Mediterranean Studies