Granules of gold: The light etruria
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Deborah Chatr Aryamontri
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:29 PM
Description
Before the Romans became Italy’s dominant power, there were the Etruscans. From around 900 to 400 BCE, they expanded across the North-West coast of Italy, bringing their culture to new regions. Even outside of Italy, the Etruscans exchanged goods and ideas with far-off civilizations via the Mediterranean Sea. The advanced metallurgy techniques of the Etruscans were particularly coveted, especially when it came to their gold smithing. One such method of producing golden accessories was granulation, in which small beads of gold, called granules, would be applied onto a piece with intense heat to create complex patterns and textures. Etruscan granulation reached its apex in the 7th century BCE, which was the peak of Etruscan influence in the Mediterranean world. As Etruria’s cultural significance was eclipsed by Rome’s, however, their accessories were simplified, and granulation became somewhat of a lost art. This paper will analyze how granulation spread across the ancient Mediterranean to Etruria, how it evolved over time, and analyze the techniques used by the Etruscans to create complex works of art. In the latter half of this essay, I will specifically examine a fibula found in the Regolini-Galassi tomb, the various granulation approaches it employs, and its historical significance in the Etruscan world.
Granules of gold: The light etruria
Before the Romans became Italy’s dominant power, there were the Etruscans. From around 900 to 400 BCE, they expanded across the North-West coast of Italy, bringing their culture to new regions. Even outside of Italy, the Etruscans exchanged goods and ideas with far-off civilizations via the Mediterranean Sea. The advanced metallurgy techniques of the Etruscans were particularly coveted, especially when it came to their gold smithing. One such method of producing golden accessories was granulation, in which small beads of gold, called granules, would be applied onto a piece with intense heat to create complex patterns and textures. Etruscan granulation reached its apex in the 7th century BCE, which was the peak of Etruscan influence in the Mediterranean world. As Etruria’s cultural significance was eclipsed by Rome’s, however, their accessories were simplified, and granulation became somewhat of a lost art. This paper will analyze how granulation spread across the ancient Mediterranean to Etruria, how it evolved over time, and analyze the techniques used by the Etruscans to create complex works of art. In the latter half of this essay, I will specifically examine a fibula found in the Regolini-Galassi tomb, the various granulation approaches it employs, and its historical significance in the Etruscan world.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.