DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0030
xxx POSITION OF ETRUSCAN CITIES. [introduction.
pristine greatness—mean villages in the place of populous
cities. On every hand are traces of bygone civilization, inferior
in quality, no doubt, to that which at present exists, but much
wider in extent, and exerting far greater influence on the sur-
rounding nations, and on the destinies of the world. The glory
has verily departed from Etruria.
The sites of the cities varied according to the nature of the
ground. In the volcanic district, where they were most thickly
set, they stood on the level of the plains, yet were not unpro-
tected by nature, these plains or table-lands being everywhere
intersected by ravines, the cleavings of the earth under volcanic
action, which form natural fosses of great depth round the
cliff-bound islands or promontories on which the towns were
built. Such was the situation of Veii, Caere, Falerii, Sutrium,
and other cities of historical renown. The favourite position
was on a tongue of land at the junction of two of these ravines.
In the northern district the cities stood in more commanding
situations, on isolated hills; but never on the summits of
scarcely accessible mountains, like many a Cyclopean town of
Central Italy, which—
" Like an eagle's nest, hangs on the crest
Of purple Apennine."
Low ground, without any natural strength of site, was always
avoided, though a few towns, as Luna, Pisse, Graviscse, Pyrgi,
for maritime and commercial purposes, stood on the very level
of the coast.
The position of the cities of Etruria is in some measure a key
to her civilization and political condition.8 Had they been on
mountain-tops, we might have inferred a state of society little
removed from barbarism, in which there was no security or
confidence between the several communities. Had they stood
on the unbroken level of the plains, we should have seen in
them an index to an amount of internal security, such as
nowhere existed in those early times. Yet is their medium
position not inconsistent with a considerable degree of civiliza-
8 Strabo (XIII. p. 592) cites the position of cities as tests of civilization and
social security.
pristine greatness—mean villages in the place of populous
cities. On every hand are traces of bygone civilization, inferior
in quality, no doubt, to that which at present exists, but much
wider in extent, and exerting far greater influence on the sur-
rounding nations, and on the destinies of the world. The glory
has verily departed from Etruria.
The sites of the cities varied according to the nature of the
ground. In the volcanic district, where they were most thickly
set, they stood on the level of the plains, yet were not unpro-
tected by nature, these plains or table-lands being everywhere
intersected by ravines, the cleavings of the earth under volcanic
action, which form natural fosses of great depth round the
cliff-bound islands or promontories on which the towns were
built. Such was the situation of Veii, Caere, Falerii, Sutrium,
and other cities of historical renown. The favourite position
was on a tongue of land at the junction of two of these ravines.
In the northern district the cities stood in more commanding
situations, on isolated hills; but never on the summits of
scarcely accessible mountains, like many a Cyclopean town of
Central Italy, which—
" Like an eagle's nest, hangs on the crest
Of purple Apennine."
Low ground, without any natural strength of site, was always
avoided, though a few towns, as Luna, Pisse, Graviscse, Pyrgi,
for maritime and commercial purposes, stood on the very level
of the coast.
The position of the cities of Etruria is in some measure a key
to her civilization and political condition.8 Had they been on
mountain-tops, we might have inferred a state of society little
removed from barbarism, in which there was no security or
confidence between the several communities. Had they stood
on the unbroken level of the plains, we should have seen in
them an index to an amount of internal security, such as
nowhere existed in those early times. Yet is their medium
position not inconsistent with a considerable degree of civiliza-
8 Strabo (XIII. p. 592) cites the position of cities as tests of civilization and
social security.