Etruscan cities explained

Etruscan cities were a group of ancient settlements that shared a common Etruscan language and culture, even though they were independent city-states. They flourished over a large part of the northern half of Italy starting from the Iron Age, and in some cases reached a substantial level of wealth and power. They were eventually assimilated first by Italics in the south, then by Celts in the north and finally in Etruria itself by the growing Roman Republic.

The Etruscan names of the major cities whose names were later Romanised survived in inscriptions and are listed below. Some cities were founded by Etruscans in prehistoric times and bore entirely Etruscan names. Others, usually Italic in origin, were colonised by the Etruscans, who in turn Etruscanised their name.

The estimates for the populations of the largest cities (Veii, Volsinii, Caere, Vulci, Tarquinia, Populonia) range between 25,000 and 40,000 each in the 6th century BC.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Twelve cities or nations

See also: Lega dei popoli.

Of several Etruscan leagues, the Dodecapolis (Greek for "twelve cities") of the Etruscan civilization is legendary amongst Roman authors, particularly Livy.^[5] However the dodecapolis had no fixed roster and if a city was removed it was immediately replaced by another.^[6] By the time the dodecapolis had sprung into the light of history, the Etruscan cities to the north had been assimilated by invasions of the Celts, and those of the south by infiltration of the Italics.

Etruscan cities were autonomous states, but they were linked in the dodecapolis and had a federal sanctuary at the Fanum Voltumnae near Volsinii.^[7]

Table of cities in Etruscan, Latin and Italian

The table below lists Etruscan cities most often included in the Dodecapolis as well as other cities for which there is any substantial evidence that they were once inhabited by Etruscans in any capacity. Roman and Italian names are given, but they are not necessarily etymologically related. For sources and etymologies (if any) refer to the linked articles.^[8]

Etruscan	Latin	Italian
Dodecapolis candidates
Aritim, Arritim, Arreti, Areuthes	Arrētium	Arezzo
Chaire, Chaisrie, Caisra, Kisra	Caere, Agylla	Cerveteri and its frazione Ceri
Clevsin, Clevsi, Cleusina	Clusium, Camars	Chiusi
Curtun, Curtna	Cortōna	Cortona
Perusna, Persna, Pherusina	Perusia	Perugia
Pupluna, Fufluna, Pupuluna	Populōnia	Populonia
Tarchuna, Tarchna	Tarquinii	Tarquinia (Corneto)
Vatluna, Vetluna, Vetaluna, Vatalu	Vetulōnia	Vetulonia
Veia, Veina, Veis	Veii	Veio
Velathri, Velathera, Felathri	Volaterrae	Volterra
Velch, Velcal, Velcl	Vulci	Volci
Velzna, Velsu, Velznani	Volsinii	Bolsena or Orvieto?
Other Etrurian^[9]
Aisinia, Asinia	Exinea, Sinea	Signa
Ampiles, Ampli, Ampile	Emporium, Empulum	Empoli
Amre, Cameria, Amerite	Ameria	Amelia
Aritma	Artiminum	Artimino
Arrantia	Ripa Arranciae	Pomarance
Aruina, Aruna, Priana	Piscia	Pescia
Bellona, Bellonia	Castrum Praedium, Pregium	Preggio
Birent, Birenz, Firens, Firez	Florentia	Firenze (Florence)
Cahinias	Caninium	Canino
Cainxna, Canxna, Cainchna	Clantianum	Chianciano Terme
Caletra, Chalaitra	Marsiliana	Marsiliana d'Albegna
Capalu	Capalbium	Capalbio
Capna	Capena	Capena
Care, Careia, Careias	Careiae, Careae	Galera, now abandoned
Carhara, Carhaira	Carraria	Carrara
Cassina	Cassina, Cascina	Cascina
Catuna	Cetona, Scitonia	Cetona
Ceicna, Caicni	Caecina	Cecina
Cusi, Cuthi	Cosa	Ansedonia
Felcina, Hulchena	Fulginia	Foligno
Fernta, Frunth	Ferentum	Ferento
Ficline	Figulinae	Figline Valdarno
Ficrine	Fregenae	Fregene
Fullona	Fullonica	Follonica
Halethi, Halesi, Phlesnas	Falerii	Civita Castellana
Hepa, Heva	Heba	Magliano in Toscana
Hortia	Corchianum	Corchiano
Hurta, Hurt	Horta	Orte
Icuvina, Ikuvina (Umbrian *Ikuvium)	Iguvium, Eugubinum	Gubbio
Larthial	Larcianum	Larciano
Liburna, Leburna	Labro	Livorno
Luca	Luca	Lucca
Luna	Luna	Luni
Manthra	Marturanum	Barbarano Romano
Martha, Marath	Marta	Marta
Marturi	Podium Bonitii	Poggibonsi
Mevana, Mevania	Bevania, Maevania	Bevagna
Narce	Narce	Mazzano Romano
Nepete, Nepet	Colonia Nepensis	Nepi
Northia	Nursia	Norcia
Nurcla, Orcla	Orclae	Norchia
Phlera, Velera, Plais	Blera	Blera
Pisna, Pise, Peithusa, Pithsa	Pisae	Pisa
Pisturim	Pistoriae, Pistorium	Pistoia
Pulianu, Purthna, Pulthna	Mons Politianus	Montepulciano
Rasela, Rusle	Rusellae	Roselle, Grosseto
Raisne, Rasiniena	Rasinianum	Rosignano
Ratumna	Balneum Regium	Bagnoregio
Ruvfna	Rufina	Rufina
Sabate	Trebonianum	Trevignano Romano
Sabatia	Angularia Sabatina	Anguillara Sabazia
Saena, Sena, Saina	Saena	Siena
Satria	Vicus Sartarianus	Sarteano
Scansna	Scansanum	Scansano
Sveama, Sveiam, Suana	Suana	Sovana
Statna, Staitne, Statues, Staties	Statōnia	Poggio Buco
Surha	Aquipendium	Acquapendente
Surina, Surrena, Surna	Surrīna, Vetus Urbs	Viterbo
Surina, Surrina, Surna	Sorianum	Soriano
Suthri	Sutrium	Sutri
Teramna	Interamna	Terni
Thefarne	Tifernum Tiberinum
Tlamu, Tlamun, Telmu, Tulumne, Tlamne	Telamōn	Talamone
Trepla	Trebula	Trebula
Tular, Tuter	Tuder	Todi
Thulfa, Thulpha	Tulpha	Tolfa
Tusena	Tuscana	Tuscania
Ucrisla	Ocriculum	Otricoli
Urcia	Vetus Aula, Veter Galla	Vetralla
Urcla, Orcla	Vicus Orclanus	Vitorchiano
Urina, Aurina, Aurinia	Saturnia	Saturnia
Veltha, Veltuna, Veltumna, Voltumna	Mons Faliscorum	Montefiascone
Velturei	Veclanum	Vecchiano
Vetumna	Vettona	Bettona
Vesnth, Vishnth	Visentium	Bisenzio
Vipena, Viplnei, Vipienas	Viblena, Viblenium	Bibbiena
Visul, Vipsul, Visal, Viesul	Faesulae	Fiesole
Vrenth	Verentum	Valentano

Etruscan	Latin	Italian
Northern (Etruria Padana)
Arciun	Artionis, Vicus Popilius	Riccione
Arimna, Harimne	Ariminum	Rimini
Atria, Hatria	Adria	Adria
(Berua)	Vicentia	Vicenza
Cainua	Misa, Misanum, Mysa	Marzabotto
Cainua, Kainua, or Stalia, Stala	Genua	Genova (Genoa)
Charumna, Carmna	Cremona	Cremona
Ceisna	Caesena	Cesena
Clavna	Clavenna	Chiavenna
Felsna, Felsina, Velzna	Bonōnia	Bologna
Felthuri, Velhatre	Feltria	Feltre
Ficline	Forum Livii	Forlì
Ficocle	Phycocle, Caervia	Cervia
Huthine, Huthina	Utina, Utinum	Udine
Manthva, Manthava	Mantua	Mantova (Mantua)
Melp, Melph, Melphe, Melpu	Melpum, Meltium	Melzo
Methlan	Mediolanum	Milano (Milan)
Misala	Herberia	Rubiera
Muthice, Muntha	Modicia	Monza
Mutina, Mutna, Muthna	Mutina	Modena
Parma, Parmna, Paruma	Parma	Parma
Pathva	Patavium	Padova (Padua)
[Pauia]	Ticinum, Papia	Pavia
Percumsna, Pergomsna, Percme, Percums	Bergomum	Bergamo
Permu	Firmum	Fermo
Pilthi, Pilithi	Bilitio	Bellinzona
Purthanas	Portus Naonis	Pordenone
Ravena, Ravna	Ravenna	Ravenna
Spina	Spina	abandoned
Tarcste	Tergeste	Trieste
Trenta	Tridentum	Trento
Uscla	Oscela	Domodossola
Verna, Veruna, Verunia	Verona, Vernomagus	Verona
Vipitene, Vipitenas, Viptena	Vipitenum	Vipiteno
Vrixia	Brixia	Brescia
Southern (Etruria Campana)
Achra, Acre	Acerrae	Acerra
Aisarna	Aesernia	Isernia
Amina	Picentia	Pontecagnano
Anth	Antium	Anzio
Azcule	Asculum	Ascoli Piceno
Caithi	Caieta	Gaeta
Cale, Cali	Cales	Calvi Risorta
Calipulis	Callipolis	Gallipoli
Canuza	Canusium	Canosa di Puglia
Capua, Capeva, Capava, Capuva, Campeva	Capua	Capua
Cavi, Kavi	Gabii	Gabi
Cura	Cora	Cori
Fanacni	Anagnia	Anagni
Frentina	Ferentinum	Ferentino
Frusna, Frusina, Fursina, Prusetna	Frusino	Frosinone
Galatia	Casa Irta	Caserta
Herclena	Herculaneum	Ercolano
Inarime	Pitecusa, Greek Pithekoussai	Ischia
Irna	Salernum	Salerno
Irnthi	Surrentum	Sorrento
Marcina	Marcina	Cava de' Tirreni and Vietri sul Mare
Nepulis	Neapolis	Napoli
Nucra	Nuceria Alfaterna	Nocera Superiore
Nula (Oscan *Nuvla)	Nola	Nola
Pumpai	Pompeii	Pompei
Regiu	Rhegium	Reggio di Calabria
Remnun	Tibur	Tivoli
Ruma, (Rumna)	Roma	Roma (Rome)
	Suessula	abandoned
Tara	Tarentum	Taranto
Tarchna, Tarkina	Tarracina	Terracina
Uvila	Bovillae	Frattocchie
Velkha	Volcei	Buccino
Veltri, Velthri	Velitrae	Velletri
Corsican
Alalia	Aleria	Aleria
Sardinian
Caralu	Caralis	Cagliari

Sources

• Book: Bonfante, G.. L. Bonfante. The Etruscan Language. An Introduction. Manchester University Press. 2002.
• Book: Dennis, George . George Dennis (explorer) . The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria . 1848 . John Murray . London. Available in the Gazetteer of Bill Thayer's Website at https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/_Periods/Roman/Archaic/Etruscan/_Texts/DENETR*/home.html

Further reading

• Dennis, George. 1883. The cities and cemeteries of Etruria. 2nd ed. London: John Murray.
• De Puma, Richard D., and J. Penny Small, eds. 1994. Murlo and the Etruscans: Art and society in ancient Etruria. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
• Drago Troccoli, Luciana. 2006. Cerveteri. Rome: Libreria dello Stato.
• Hall, John F., ed. 1996. Etruscan Italy: Etruscan influences on the civilizations of Italy from antiquity to the modern era. Provo, UT: Museum of Art, Brigham Young University.
• Haynes, Sybille. 2000. Etruscan civilization: A cultural history. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.
• Leighton, Robert. 2004. Tarquinia: An Etruscan city. London: Duckworth.
• Phillips, Kyle M., Jr. 1993. In the hills of Tuscany: Recent excavations at the Etruscan site of Poggio Civitate (Murlo, Siena). Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania.
• Riccioni, Giuliana. 1979. "Vulci: A topographical and cultural survey." In Italy before the Romans: The Iron Age, Orientalizing, and Etruscan periods. Edited by David Ridgway and Francesca R. Ridgway, 241–76. London and New York: Academic Press.
• Turfa, Jean MacIntosh, ed. 2013. The Etruscan World. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

External links

• Names of the member-cities of the Etruscan Leagues (c. 750–270 BC) in Etruscan and Italian

Notes and References

1. Book: Turfa . Jean MacIntosh . The Etruscan World . 13 November 2014 . 978-1134055302 . 24 October 2014.
2. Book: An Historical Geography of Europe 450 B.C.-A.D. 1330. 9780521291262. 24 October 2014. Pounds. Normal J. G.. 16 December 1976.
3. Web site: The Process of Urbanization of Etruscan Settlements from the Late Villanovan to the Late Archaic Period (End of the Eighth to the Beginning of the Fifth Century B.C.) : Presentation of a Project and Preliminary Results. PDF. Scholarworks.umass.edu. 24 October 2014.
4. Book: Production, Consumption and Society in North Etruria During the Archaic and .... 9780549558491. 24 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141024131141/http://books.google.dk/books?id=nvsWZxKAa_4C&pg=PA224&lpg=PA224&dq=etruscan+city+Veii+had+up+to+32,000+people&source=bl&ots=dLn3myE8M1&sig=1ufDQL4v3K9X2PwtwjY6azVgZrw&hl=da&sa=X&ei=I9FDU5K4GcLq4gSf44HoDg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=etruscan%20city%20Veii%20had%20up%20to%2032%2C000%20people&f=false. 24 October 2014. dead. dmy-all.
5. Livy VII.21
6. George Dennis, the Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria. London, Appendix to Chapter I, Note IV. Available at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/_Periods/Roman/Archaic/Etruscan/_Texts/DENETR*/home.html
7. Book: Cary, M.. H.H. Scullard. A History of Rome. 25. 3rd. 1979. 0-312-38395-9.
8. The Bonfantes (2002) pages 222-223 have published a good overall list.
9. Parts of ancient Etruria near Rome are now in Lazio. This account accepts the ancient boundary along the Tiber.