The Etruscans [Hardcover]

Massimo Pallottino (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Allen Lane; New edition edition (April 24, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713902183
• ISBN-13: 978-0713902181
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,156,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Start here for knowlege about the Etruscans, August 6, 2011

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E. G. E. Bs "Professor Gryphon" (Mount Olympus) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Etruscans (Hardcover)

Palotinno keeps the flavor of mystery alive, while revealing the history of the Etruscans. There are newer books, with much more recent scientific explanation, but this book is still a good starting place.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Classic Text; But Dated..., December 20, 2009

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S. Pactor "reader" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Etruscans (Pelican) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is another random book I read in preparation for a forthcoming visit to Italy. I'd read scattered bits about the Etruscans in other ancient texts, but I wanted to know more. I'm guessing this is a classic Italian text on the subject, since the English translations is from the 6th revised italian edition- and this book was originally published in the 50s.

Pallottino was the professor of Etruscan studies at the Universitye of Rome, so I'm guessing he knows what he's talking about, but unfortunately this book is now more then 40 years old, and I can't help but think that some of the arguments and inferences are dated.

Specifically, during the chapter on Etruscan religion, Pallottino describes a religion that strongly reminds me of the religion described by Botero in this Religion in Ancient Mesopotmaia. Pallottino passes through this description like he is actually unaware of the religious practices of the Mesopotmaians- which is feasible considering that he wrote this book in the 1950s.

At the same time, he discounts the popular "Etruscans came from Asia Minor" theory... honestly, after reading HIS descripition of Etruscan religion (emphasis on divination, reading of animal liv holy ers, 12 is the holy number) I found it hard to credit his other alternatives for the origin of Etruscan civilization. After all, isn't religion the deepest part of any ancient civilization?