Isis Tomb, Vulci

Isis Tomb, Vulci
Figure of a noble lady from the Isis Tomb, Vulci
Material	Gypsum
Size	89 cm high
Created	570-560 BC
Present location	British Museum,London
Identification	1850,0227.1

TheIsis Tombis a richly endowedEtruscanchamber tomb that was found at the Polledrara Cemetery,Vulci,Lazio,Italy,in the early nineteenth century.Many artefacts were discovered in the Isis Tomb when it was originally excavated but, as was custom at the time, only objects of high monetary value were kept. Over 60 of these objects are now held by theBritish Museum,with others scattered across a range of museums around the world.

Discovery

The tomb was located on land that belonged toLucien Bonaparte,Prince of Canino and brother ofNapoleon.In 1839, Prince Lucien opened up a large 6th century tomb at the Polledrara Cemetery near Vulci. Many objects were found but only those considered valuable were retained - much ceramicpottery,for example was lost. In 1844, the Prince's widowAlexandrine de Bleschampsold about sixty objects from the tomb to DrEmil Braunof theGerman Archaeological Instituteat Rome. These were later sold by Braun to the British Museum.

Description of Objects

All the items found in the tomb date between 625 and 550 BC. The burial chamber is known as the 'Isis Tomb' because it was once thought that a bronze bust found in the tomb represented the Egyptian deityIsis.However the sculpture is more likely to depict a native fertility goddess or priestess. There were many objects from the Isis Tomb that were clearly imported fromEgyptor elsewhere in theMiddle East,which indicates trade and cultural exchange between Etruscans and Civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean. These included bluefaienceflasks andscarabswith hieroglyphic inscriptions. Four ostrich eggs,were probably decorated byPhoenicianartists in Lebanon. There were also a large number of bronze vessels interred in the tomb, including cups, bowls, tripod-bowls, a cauldron, a lamp-stand, an amphora, abrazierand a cinerary urn. Ceramic objects included ahydria,a largeamphoraand akylix,and there was also a range of gold jewellery included adiadem.Perhaps the most important objects buried in the tomb were a number of bronze and gypsum sculptures, including a half-life size statue of a noble lady, perhaps a depiction of the original occupant of the burial chamber. She is shown wearing acloakand longtunicwith traces of paint.

Occupants of the Tomb

The exact location of thetombis currently unknown as, once all materials from the chamber had been removed, it was filled in and abandoned. The names of the original occupants remain obscure, althougharchaeologistshave suggested, based on the range and style of objects found, that amarried couplewas probably buried in the chamber, along with other members of their family. They must have come from a very affluent and prestigious EtruscandynastyinVulci,given the luxurious items they chose to be buried with, many of which must have been imported from abroad at great expense.

Gallery

• 
  Bronzebustof a goddess holding a bird from the tomb that was originally thought to represent the goddess Isis
• 
  Two flasks with Egyptianhieroglyphicinscriptions
• 
  Ornamented and paintedostricheggs from the tomb
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  Two bronze vessels from the tomb
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  Gold diadem withembosseddecoration of cables, palmettes, chimeras and lions
• 
  Part of an ironbrazier:two bronze wheels and two bronze horses' heads
• 
  Bronzetripodstand with a hammered ring and cast feet
• 
  Ancient Egyptianscarabsfound in the Isis Tomb
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  Bronze four-nozzled lamp-stand
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  Large storage-jar oramphorawith painted decoration and a bronze biconical cineraryurn

Bibliography

• Friederike Bubenheimer-Erhart,Das Isisgrab von Vulci: eine Fundgruppe der Orientalisierenden Periode Etruriens(Wien: Verlag der österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2012)
• L. Burn,The British Museum Book of Greek and Roman Art(British Museum Press, 1991)
• S. Walker,Roman Art(British Museum Press, 1991)