A unique double exhibition at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden and the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam about the intriguing world of the Etruscans, with many highlights from the collections of leading Italian museums. Each museum approaches this theme from a different angle. In Leiden, the Etruscan women take centre stage, and in Amsterdam the men, with hundreds of masterpieces from the collections of the two museums and an international range of institutions. Long before the Romans, some 3,000 years ago, the Etruscans ruled central Italy. Their cultural influence was profound, their precious artefacts and works of art were unprecedented in their beauty, and their faith in the afterlife was unbounded. The civilization reached its highlight between 750- and 500 BC. They were also a surprisingly liberated society. In many respects, Etruscan women were equal in status to men. Against an alluring backdrop of Tuscan landscapes and colourful Etruscan frescoes, visitors will find more than 600 museum pieces, including eye-catching golden jewellery, bronze weapons, sculptures of gods and goddesses, and lavishly decorated pottery. Many of these rare and precious objects were found in richly stocked burial chambers; for this exhibition, a spectacular three-dimensional reconstruction has been made of these renowned tombs of Etruscan princes and princesses.
