Episode 17 The Etruscan Banquet
The Mysterious Etruscans
Dr Steven L Tuck (2016)
Film Review
The Etruscan banquet was a rare formal occasion organized by elites to reinforce their social ties and their hierarchical positions. The earliest known banquets date bake to Nimrod in lower Babylonia. One banquet Assyrian conquerors hosted to celebrate a military victory hosted 69,000 guests.
Mediterranean banquets were smaller and limited to the elites. The most common Greek banquet was the symposium, which was actually a drinking party where only wine (without food) was served. With Greek banquets invited guests were exclusively male while females provided entertainment.
At Etruscan banquets, in contrast, male and female couples lounged on the same couches. This willingness to allow women to drink wine and dine with men was the main reason Greeks regarded Etruscans as barbarians. Sometimes Etruscan women hosted banquets or occasionally wealthy non-aristocratic traders. The latter was also unheard of in Greece.
According to grave frescoes (depicting meat being hung prior to butchering), Etruscans enjoyed hare, dear, birds and beef at their banquets, along with ruit, eggs and olives. They were waited on by slaves and musicians (mainly flautists).
Etruscan grave frescoes are painted in the Greek-style, with large blocks of color, sexes distinguished by complexion (men’s faces were white and women’s red) and faces depicted in profile with full frontal bodies and eyes. Slaves are always much smaller to depict their lower status. Dancer depicted in Etruscan grave frescoes are modeled on the Greek followers of Dionysus.
At Assyrian banquets, only the king was allowed to recline. At Greek banquets, only the richest men recline. In the Etruscan cities, women and middle class guests reclained on dining couches.
Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.
The Most Revolutionary Act 
“At Etruscan banquets, in contrast, male and female couples lounged on the same couches. This willingness to allow women to drink wine and dine with men was the main reason Greeks regarded Etruscans as barbarians. Sometimes Etruscan women hosted banquets or occasionally wealthy non-aristocratic traders. The latter was also unheard of in Greece.”
Did Etruscan women enjoy an unheard of equality?
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I think they did, Aunty. In Etruria, unlike other ancient civilizations, they were allowed to own and bequeath property and both women and children were allowed to participate in public events instead of being hidden at home.
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