Reevaluating Etruscan Influences on the Engravings of Praenestine Pear-shaped Mirrors and Cistae

Abstract

AbstractPraenestine bronze cistae and pear-shaped bronze handle mirrors with engraved figural scenes, some with Latin inscriptions (ca. 350–300 B.C.E.), should not be labeled as Etruscan, Italic or or middle Republican Roman. The influences of the engravings of Etruscan circular tang and handle mirrors, although they were exported from Southern Etruria to Praeneste (nowadays Palestrina), are slight and incidental. The same holds true for influences of Praenestine mirrors on Etruscan mirrors. Even though intercultural artistic relations existed between certain Etruscan cities and Praeneste, the influence was not potent enough to label works of Praenestine craftsmanship as Etruscan. They have their own, distinct local character.