Exhibiting the Etruscans: beyond the representation and reception of an ancient culture in Italian museums

Abstract

The study of Etruscan reception is a complex research topic that has gained increasing attention in recent decades. The Etruscans undeniably constitute an integral part of Italy's heritage, and their study can reveal how ancient people have been romanticised, mythologised, or misunderstood across different audiences and time periods. Championed as powerful products of modernity, museums are one of the main channels that audiences use to engage with the past, shaping both collective and individual responses to the Ancient World. Merging these two research lines, this thesis investigates archaeological museums as dynamic spaces where heritage is both made and encountered. It asks how the Etruscan past is presented, reconstructed and experienced in Italian museums, further dividing the main research question into three smaller questions. The latter deal respectively with how archaeological displays physically portray the Etruscans, how museum curators approach the interpretation of this ancient people and how visitors experience the past both inside and outside museums. The aim is to unravel the construction of historical narratives within institutional settings and their profound impact on public engagement with the past. Although Italian museums have been notably reluctant to establish a link between antiquity and the present, the thesis combines professional viewpoints and visitors' interests, transforming the museum into a contact zone between academic and popular perceptions. Employing a mixed-methods case study design, the thesis assesses the use of space, display layouts, and text panels, coupled with interviews of museum professionals and visitors. Findings reveal that objects and displays, while retaining a traditional character, are increasingly infused with museum archaeologists’ attempts to re-evaluate their narratives. These employ artifacts from the past as a lens through which to examine contemporary issues, with Etruscan civilisation acting as a point of departure for exploring not only historical modes of existence but also shared human experiences across temporal boundaries. The more these issues come to the fore, the more a shift is perceived from the authoritative world of representation, toward the more-than-representational realm of senses and feelings. Explanatory and didactic aims are still present but engaging with the past on emotional levels bears less tangible but still powerful reactions. The latter can facilitate a closer connection with antiquity and a willingness to care for the archaeological heritage, both of which are necessary to shape a relevant future for our museums.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Cristina Sanna: orcid.org/0009-0001-8103-2252

ORCID for Anna Collar: orcid.org/0000-0002-7274-2674

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