"The Etruscans: Villanovan Culture Warriors" Topic

"The Villanovan culture was the earliest Iron Age culture to appear in Italy, generally dated to begin around the late 10th to early 9th centuries BCE. From this developed the Etruscan civilisation, which survived until completely absorbed by the growing Roman Republic around the 3rd century BCE. Indeed the Etruscans can be seen as the forefathers of the Romans, and several of the early Roman kings were Etruscan. However the Villanovan period of the Etruscan civilisation gradually gave way during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE to what scholars call the Orientalizing Period, when increasing influence from outside, especially Greece, lead to changes in society and the appearance of its armies. This set from Linear-A focuses on the early, Villanovan Period, offering us a view of ancient Italy before the Roman Republic and later Empire would dominate that land and much more.

There are a pretty healthy 14 poses in this set, and since this is set 1 there is more to follow. However this set seems to try and cover all the major elements of an Etruscan army, and particularly the range of weapons that might be employed. Axes were a common and basic weapon in many cultures at this time, and three of these poses carry one. Each is very different from the others, yet all are firmly attested to the Etruscans at this time. The two-handed axe was a later development, as opposition (which might simply be Etruscans from other city-states) wore more protection, and this required any shield to be carried on the back, as here. Spears tended to be carried by the wealthier men, who would be described today as heavy infantry. At this time Etruscans did not do battle in organised phalanxes as they would in the later period, so these men are quite possibly engaged in single combat, and all the poses are suitable for that. The spearman in the top row looks particularly menacing as he advances with shield held before him, and the one in the second row is particularly interesting as he is perhaps delivering a blow from underneath while parrying that of his opponent…."

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