Madison Scarlassara

Dr. Alec Thomson

History 134 - Ancient World History
12 November 2016
A day in a Life of an Etruscan Woman
I awoke with a smile on my face when I realized that today would be filled with fun and
excitement. My family was hosting a party for my late great grandmother and many of the
community members would be joining us. My family consisted of my mother, Alfia and father,
Pesna. The grand banquet would be held in honor for my great grandma and her high stature in
the well respected community. There would be dancers and musicians playing as we sat and
laughed while drinking wine and eating food provided by our servants.
I am proud to be part of the Etruscan society. Women here, unlike women in Rome, are
granted many freedoms. We are allowed to eat and drink wine with the men of the society. I am
allowed to play games with the men naked and converse with them if as we where equals.
Roman women, I have heard, are treated as property and are supposed to work day and night
without experiencing any freedom. Another difference between us and the Roman women are
our love lives. Roman women marry for different purposes, not always for love. They are also
supposed to be pure. In our society, the sharing of wives is a well practiced act.
I got up out of bed and put on my brightly colored pleated tunic. It was beautiful and I
gave thanks to my families and towns wealth as I slipped the decorated sheet of fabric over my
head. I braided and then knotted my hair at the crown of my head and then accessorized with
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colorful bronze jewelry. When I was done I laced up my high sandals with the upward pointing
toe and walked out of my room to the part of the house where the banquette was to be held.
Our servant girl Talia brought out flat grape bread for our morning meal. Slaves here
were treated much better than in the Roman culture. Talia is allowed to eat with us, socialize with
us and also leave the houses premise on occasion. For the banquette tonight Talia would prepare
meat, flavored with rosemary seasoning and bring up the wine stored in terracotta jars from
underground. Grand frescos decorated the walls of our house showing our colorful and laid back
lifestyle. Musicians playing the Tibia would play simple melodies that dancers, wearing see
through veils and dark colored cloaks, would subtly and gracefully dance to.
Vala, my mother called from outside, where she stood waiting with my father and other
extended family members. Its time for your great grandmothers burial. I joined them outside
and we started walking down the road toward my familys tomb. As we walked, we sang and
danced in memory of the dead. Our family tomb, Ancuri, was located in the center of the burial
chamber part of the town. The chambers were set up like our town was, so that the spirits of the
deceased could walk around and enjoy life. Life after death was thought of as better than life
while living, during Etruscan society. Our tomb was large due to the wealth of my family and
decorated on the inside with paintings of every single necessity one needs while living.
My uncles carried my great grandmothers body which lay on a board covered with a
white veil inside a coffin on the far end of our familys tomb. There she would be able to enjoy
her afterlife with the rest of our late family. She wore a colorful tunic decorated with expensive
jewelry. Her makeup and hair was done for the occasion. My family and I walked out of the
Tomb, Ancuri, and still singing, made our way back to our house to prepare for the feast.