The Italian state has acquired the François Tomb, a renowned piece of ancient Etruscan artwork, for €15 million. The tomb, named after the archaeologist who discovered it in 1857, is a richly decorated burial chamber in the ancient city of Vulci, a center of power for the Etruscan civilization, just north of Rome.
Etruscan History and Culture
The François Tomb is one of the most important surviving pieces of ancient Etruscan artwork and provides a rare glimpse into the conflict between the local foes, with one of the frescoes showing Etruscan heroes slaughtering enemies identified as men from Rome and other rival cities.
The tomb’s frescoes, painted between 340 and 320 BC, combine scenes from Greek mythology with episodes from Etruscan history. According to Luana Toniolo, head of the Villa Giulia museum, the François Tomb is one of the great treasures of archaeology, telling the story of families, heroes, gods, and warriors of the Etruscan time.
The Italian state’s purchase of the tomb ensures that this significant piece of cultural heritage will be preserved and displayed for the public to enjoy. The tomb is now on permanent display at Rome’s National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, along with other artifacts from the tomb, which have been loaned by European museums.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
