Italian police uncover priceless Etruscan artifacts stolen by bumbling tomb raiders:
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/20/style/italy-etruscan-artifacts-tomb-raiders
@evamarie I toured where they lived. They had a very unique public bath and essentially their entire culture was about getting drunk, screwing and penis sculpting, which at this point makes more sense than our quest.
I toured Etruscan tombs, too, when I visited small towns that dated back to Etruscan times (Chiusi, Volterra, Castallina in Chianti) and was fascinated by their culture. But, yeah, they seemed to have a very eat, drink and be merry outlook. ๐
@evamarie Correct me if Iโm wrong, but wasnโt that the place with all the stunning frescoโs? Like a shopping mall they had a bread store fresco maybe a fish one each little shop had a fresco representing what the contents were. I didnโt go any tombs there, but I did Sicily, I was amazed that you could get postcards of dead people to send home to your friends !
The tombs I visited didnโt have stunning frescos, unfortunately, but they did contain statutes and these amazing funerary urns. These tombs were like round earthen mounds and when you entered, you walked in a circle. It amazed me that the entire Etruscan culture was absorbed into the Roman Empire.
Through DNA analysis, theyโve been able to confirm that many people in Tuscany still carry majority Etruscan DNA.
Oh, this looks like Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome which is IMO more awe inspiring than Pompeii. Many of the old buildings do have these glorious tiled floors which are stunning. ๐คฉ
Iโd love to go back, too, although Iโd want to go in February - both cheaper and devoid of tourists ๐
@evamarie I might one day, Iโll Ambien my ass over and back.
Ditto.
@evamarie iโd like to go back, but the flight is daunting and now Iโm told Italy is overrun with tourists. As you can tell these are from very long ago.