Customer Reviews

Etruscan Myths (Legendary Past)

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I found this book to be somewhat disappointing. In the first chapter the authors attempt to dispell the myth that the Etruscans are so terribly mysterious and enigmatic, implying that we indeed know a lot about them. Yet the book does not really confirm this point, since all of the chapters simply launch into Greek mythology, saying that the Etruscans borrowed it. One continues searching in vain for what might be any original Etruscan mythology. The authors have interesting things to say about the unique iconographical differences between Greek and Etruscan portrayals of these myths, but one is left very unsatisfied, desiring to know if there is any original Etruscan myth known to anyone in the world. This would have been far less frustrating if the authors had explained up front the apparent lack of originality in Etruscan mythology, or that the Etruscans seem not to have had any mythology of their own. But instead they keep leading the reader along, and one remains hopeful that he might learn something other than Greek mythology in this book. One comes away with a few Etruscan names of Greek and Roman deities, and a couple of iconographic features that are uniquely Etruscan, but nowhere in the book has the reader learned anything that can be accurately labeled "Etruscan Myth."

This is a wonderful book, particularly for people who are fascinated by the Etruscans but frustrated by the lack of any Etruscan literature on myths. To make up for this deficit, Bonfante and Swaddling cleverly draw on the abundance of surviving Etruscan art to illuminate Etruscan myths. As the Etruscans admited Greek myths and found them expressive, they adopted and depicted Greek myths tailored to their own use. The authors show which Greek myths they chose, how they adapted them for their own purposes and the different slant they often introduced. They point out what is special about the Etruscan myths and how they differ from the Greek prototypes in their emphasis on female deities, couples, sex, children and families. Hints are explored about local legends. One chapter discusses the Etruscan interest in cruelty, violence and death, another details the Etruscan panthron, giving names, functions, personalities and stories. Throughout, there are beautiful illustrations. The seemingly impossible task of recovering myths when the words to tell them have been lost is triumphantly achieved in this short but elegant and informative book.