Myth in Etruria: Images & Inscriptions

In contrast to the Greek and Roman worlds, our knowledge regarding the diffusion and use of mythology in Etruria is not primarily based on literature, but on material evidence—images and inscriptions. Far from being a limitation, this feature is not only instructive as regards the specific channels of the transmission of myths, but also suggests an object- and context-oriented approach to their study. Through an interdisciplinary focus on iconography and epigraphy, the round table aims to explore two key traits of Etruscan religious and cultural practice: seeing/interpreting, and writing. The comparative perspective determined by the Etruscans' relationship with the Greeks provides an optimal background for a broader historical assessment of the role of mythology within Etruscan culture.

Speakers: Thomas Carpenter, Nancy T. de Grummond, Richard De Puma, Maurizio Harari, Adriano Maggiani, Dominique Briquel, Luigi Benelli, Francesco de Angelis, Larissa Bonfante, Rex Wallace.

November 20-21, 2009, Italian Academy at Columbia University, Amsterdam at West 117 Street, New York, NY 10027