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Approaching monumental architecture: mechanics and movement in Archaic Etruscan palaces*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2013

Gretchen E. Meyers
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Abstract

This paper reassesses the architectural setting of a group of monumental buildings dating to the sixth century bc from the Etruscan area of central Italy, sometimes referred to as palaces, or palazzi. Although scholars traditionally have focused on classifying the buildings, the architectural form is here examined through close comparative analysis of spatial mechanics and movement. Focusing on case-studies from Poggio Civitate (Murlo) and Acquarossa, the author reconstructs the architectural processes of movement, particularly between the exterior and interior spaces arranged around a characteristic courtyard, and concludes that the structures are indicative of a unique Etruscan experience rather than that of Mediterranean palaces more generally. The author calls for a shift away from attempts to categorize these monumental structures in favour of a close analysis of spatial experience in order to explore better their architectural impact and function.

Con questo articolo si riesamina l'assetto architettonico di un gruppo di edifici monumentali datati al VI secolo a.C. dislocati in un'area etrusca dell'Italia centrale, a cui a volte ci si riferisce con il termine di ‘palazzo’. Nonostante gli studiosi si siano spesso concentrati sulla classificazione degli edifici, si propone in questa sede un nuovo approccio in cui la forma architettonica è esaminata attraverso un'accurata analisi comparativa dei meccanismi degli spazi e del movimento. Focalizzando l'attenzione sui case-studies di Poggio Civitate (Murlo) e Acquarossa, l'Autore ricostruisce il processo architettonico del movimento, in particolare tra gli spazi esterni e interni organizzati intorno a una caratteristica corte aperta, e conclude che le strutture sono indicative di un'esperienza etrusca che sembra essere unica piuttosto che riferibile più generalmente a quella dei palazzi mediterranei. L'Autore si tiene lontano da qualunque tentativo di categorizzare queste strutture monumentali a favore di un'attenta analisi dell'esperienza spaziale al fine di esplorare meglio il loro impatto architettonico e la loro funzione.

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Articles
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Papers of the British School at Rome , Volume 81 , October 2013 , pp. 39 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © British School at Rome 2013 

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Footnotes

*

I am grateful to the following individuals who contributed to the publication of this essay through inspiration, assistance or support: Morgan Burgess, Alexis Castor, Judith Chien, Matthew Coonan, Ingrid Edlund-Berry, Ann Steiner, Michael Thomas, Anthony Tuck, Carolyn Valone and Greg Warden. I would like to express my gratitude also to the anonymous reviewers for Papers of the British School at Rome for their helpful suggestions. Any errors herein are completely my own.

References

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