The Etruscans

In collaboration with the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Amsterdam's Allard Pierson Museum presents a fascinating double exhibition about an equally fascinating culture - that of the Etruscans, the highest developed civilisation in Central Italy before the rise of the Romans.

Wealth, power, splendour

Some 3000 years ago, long before the rise of the Romans, the Etruscan civilisation was the highest-developed culture in central Italy. The two museums tell the story of Etruscan wealth, religion, power and splendour, each from a different perspective: the Museum of Antiquities focuses on women in Etruscan culture, the Allard Pierson Museum on Etruscan men. More than 700 masterpieces, from the museums' own collections and numerous foreign museums, are on display.

Women as equals

The remains of imposing Etruscan tombs still dot the romantic landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Lovers of Italy and art enthusiasts are equally fascinated by Etruscan art, from the magnificent gold jewellery to colourful tomb paintings. Their civilisation reached its peak between 750 and 500 BC. Etruscan society was highly developed and women enjoyed equal status to men, both in the socio-cultural sphere and in religious roles.

Artefacts from princely tombs

Highlights of the exhibitions will be the objects found in various princely tombs in Italy. These include golden jewellery and bronze weapons, figures of gods and goddesses, characteristic ash urns, polychrome frescoes and sumptuously decorated ceramics, accompanied by spectacular 3D reconstructions of the tombs of an aristocratic man and woman, architectural models and films.

Generous loans

The Etruscans features more than 200 loan items from the National Archaeological Museum (Florence), the Villa Giulia (Rome), the Capitoline Museums (Rome), the Vatican Museums (Vatican City), the Archaeological Museum of Bologna, the British Museum (London), the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Copenhagen) and the Royal Museums of Art and History (Brussels).

Please note: a surcharge of 3 euros applies.