More than Meets the Eye: Connecting Aural and Visual Experience inside the Etruscan Painted Tomb Space (20 min)

Presenters

Jacqueline K. Ortoleva, Seattle Central College

Abstract

One of the most common themes in the Etruscan archaeological record is the figurative representation of sound. Whether depicting natural phenomena, such as lightning, or human guided musical performance, different sounds served distinct sociocultural roles across Etruria. This is perhaps best illustrated inside Etruscan painted tombs, which include paintings of musicians, dancers, and other figures that visually represent sound. Ongoing acoustic fieldwork across central Italy continues to highlight the acoustic properties of Etruscan painted and unpainted funerary contexts. I argue that when considering the painted tomb, such acoustic data must be considered in conjunction with visual representations of sound.

This paper explores the depiction of music inside the Etruscan painted tomb space from the perspective of sound and aural experience. Cumulative data from recent acoustic fieldwork involving 14 painted tombs in Tarquinia, Italy are presented. Sound propagation stimulated inside the painted tomb via digitalized and live musical performance of commonly depicted instruments in Etruscan iconography is of focus. Ultimately, the visual representation of musical performance inside the painted tomb is juxtaposed with the acoustic qualities of illustrated instruments. The study contributes to studies involving wall paintings in pre-Roman and other Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean contexts while stimulating debate regarding the unique role that figurative iconography may have once served as a representation of human aural and visual experience.

  AIA-7I