Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mochovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Shpak Larisa Y., PhD.; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6936-9426; larusparus@mail.ru
This paper presents the study of physical features and identification of the physical type of the Etruscans based on the image materials. Data interpretation has been made in the context of the bioarchaeological evidence that shows a high standard of living, good health, and possible social balance in the Etruscan society (the egalitarian hypothesis of G. Kron, 2013). A total number of 142 male and 49 female funerary wall paintings (frescoes of 30 tombs) and 66 male and 43 female sculptural images (coroplastics, bronze) were examined. Dating range is 5th-1st century BC for burial sculptures and 6th-2nd century BC for paintings. Sex and social class of each individual have been identified based on the image. Paintings of males have been divided into 2 contrasting social groups (aristocracy and all others). The somatoscopic method was used with a separate description of different body parts (posture, back shape, the presence of excessive abdominal fat, and chest shape). Somatotype schemes of V.V. Bunak [Bunak, 1941] and I.B. Galant [Galant, 1927] were used. The observed variability in body shapes and somatotypes suggests that the Etruscans lack the idealistic generalization of a human figure that is intrinsic to Greeks. More overweight individuals were found among sculptures than in paintings, although the number of overweight people is still very low and equal among social classes. In general, in paintings, men do not show big somatic differences between representatives of contrasting social strata. The ancient myth of «Obesus Etruscus» is only partly confirmed: on frescoes excessive abdominal fat is only present in 6 out of 50 people (12% of cases) and in half the cases on sculpture. Variability of somatotypes and absence of significant differences between contrasting social classes may indicate an overall high level of physical development of studied group supporting the hypothesis of G. Kron.
anthropology; Etruscans; Etruscan wall painting; physical type of Etruscans; «Obesus Etruscus»
DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2017.4.133-148
Цит.: Shpak L.Y. On the physical type of Etruscans. Part 2. Descriptive traits of appearance (body) on the materials of Etruscan figurative sources // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2017; 4/2017; с. 133-148
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