BOLOGNA Until the 1st.IV.2001 Etruscan princes Archeological museum

The fusion of different cultures and knowledges, between different people is a fact we can trace in the whole human history.
Between the end of the VIIIth century and the beginning of the VIth century bc., deep oriental influences spread all around Europe and the Mediterraneum. Architecture, craftsmanship, aesthetic tastes, life styles and cultural models taken from the great civilisations of Mesopotamia and Palestine, become a basis of western cultures too.
Even alphabetical writing has been transmitted to European people in this way.
The beautiful exposition in Bologna describes, with many findings and a good display, the fundamental role of the Etruscans in the process of orientalisation.
Etruscan people were intermediaries between Greek colonies in the south of Italy and Celtics populations in central Europe.
The findings on display show on detail the flow of ideas and objects in the Mediterranean islands, through the Etruscan people and than to continental Europe.
The powerful Etruscan aristocracy has a central role in this process. Etruscan princes justify their power through luxury and splendour deriving from oriental courts.
The exposition deserves a careful visit, because of richness and value of the objects on display (coming from 52 museums in Italy and abroad), but also for the exceptional attention the organisers put on the displaying.
There is also a good guide service, both for adults and children: a funny didactic way has been organised for them.

English version by Simona Piselli