Discs of Splendor

Download or read book Discs of Splendor written by Alexandra Ann Carpino and published by Univ of Wisconsin Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Etruscans, whose culture flourished in Italy from the late eighth century B.C.E. to the first century B.C.E, produced some of the most sumptuous bronze and silver mirrors found in the ancient Mediterranean. Mirrors with relief decorations on their reverse sides are extremely rare and uniquely Etruscan. Their designs inform us about artistic styles and supplement our understanding of Etruscan culture and taste. The subjects illustrated on the mirrors give important insights into Etruscan mythology, beliefs, and cultural values, filling the vacuum left by the loss of most of their literary record.