Dear Editor,

While theaters run 2 a.m. screenings of “The Odyssey” to meet demand, allow me to nudge you toward another cultural phenomenon that makes ancient wisdom accessible, this time through art, not war: “The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy” at the Legion of Honor Museum through Sept. 20.

The Etruscans, who predated the Romans on the Italian peninsula, were an enigmatic footnote in my college seminars. My lingering curiosity led me to attend a talk by curator Renée Dreyfus and University of California, Berkeley professor Lisa Pieraccini, who spent a decade building this exhibit to showcase the discovery of a culture full of personality. The resonance of this show has drawn me back three times already, accompanied by friends and family. And now you, too. 

A large part of what we now know about the Etruscans is from what they have told us. And it’s wholesome! Their cremation urns resemble their wooden huts—where they wanted to rest for eternity. Ahead of death, wealthier families chose how to decorate their burial chambers. One mural shows the deceased fishing with his buddies on a lake, taking turns cliff jumping into the water. What the Etruscans authentically loved is on display, and it’s as familiar as my plans to go camping with friends next weekend. This exhibit champions the fundamental good in our lives – home, friends, nature.

There is a playfulness in these artifacts that makes the Etruscans accessible. One curatorial label needlessly tells us of the “whimsical air” of a pitcher that pours water through with the snout-holes of two horses. Do you drink wine backward or forward from a cup in the shape of a bent knee? I counted nine items adorned with ducks, you may find more. As Dreyfus says in the introductory video: “You have a feeling you can communicate with these people.” No doubt the conversation would be full of laughter. 

What’s more, their women had equal standing. The representation of couples is affectionate and flirtatious. You will discover a history of Etruscan legacy, religion, language, and other fascinating details that put the mystery to rest.  

Dreyfus weaves a story of joy, sensuality and sophistication. It is the perfect show for our irreverent City, and it is a welcome reminder to touch grass. If you haven’t been yet, go! You have a month to get into dialogue with an ancient culture that feels as real as the scenes out the N-train window – from couples lounging at Duboce Park to endless billboards that incorporate new gods into our own pantheon every couple of years.

This exhibit argues that the Etruscans were absorbed by the Romans, in part because they didn’t have a standing army. Their focus was elsewhere – banqueting, educating their daughters, and making eclectic art. Their ending feels familiar, too, as I watch my local friends make the choice between tech and exile. In the midst of a cultural shift propagated by greed and delusions of grandeur, may we be remembered for the honeybears in our windows, our multicultural neighborhoods and colorfully painted homes.

From,

Morganne Howell, Sunset District Resident