Catinum nigrum: Etruscan Bucchero Pottery in Ancient Texts
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Bucchero is the term for a specific type of black Etruscan pottery mass-produced in modern-day Tuscany, Lazio, Umbria, Campania, and the Emilia-Romagna region between the 7th and 5th centuries BC (in the 4th century BC, bucchero grigio). Bucchero is occasionally referred to as "national" Etruscan pottery or incorrectly as their only independent invention. The distribution of bucchero pottery provides evidence for the historical growth of the Etruscan culture. This type of ceramic is characterized by its black or dark grey color and smooth, glossy surface as a result of an oxygen-reduced firing process. Bucchero ceramic data is the primary indicator of consumer use in the privileged Etruscan groups and permits following the historical spread of the Etruscan culture. Archaeological pottery finds, particularly those from Etruscan necropoleis, provide most of the knowledge on bucchero ceramics. However, this information can be enriched by the Etruscan wall paintings, epigraphic sources, and, last but not least, written sources. Since there are several allusions to Etruscan and primitive Roman pottery in ancient texts (Hor. Epist.; Juv.; Mart; Pers.; etc.), the main objective of the contribution is to search and analyze those references in Latin that could refer to Etruscan black bucchero pottery and their interpretation in the context of archaeological discoveries. |