The Etruscan language mostly remained isolated from connact with language families from other linguistic origins, like the Indo-European language family from which Greek and Latin derive and which is the basis for most of the modern European languages including Italian. The Etruscan is therefore a language difficult to understand. On the other hand the Etruscan alphabet is easily read, deriving from the Greek alphabet with some changes making it similar to the Latin alphabet with which we are familiar. The diffusion of the alphabet in the territories inhabited by Etruscans, from the North to Mantova in Lombardia and Adria in Veneto, to the South until Pontecagnano near Salerno, and the peculiarities which have always been characteristic of each Etruscan community, means that from place to place there have been many differences in the pronunciation and also in the written aspects of the language. In Arezzo the most obvious characteristics are those that unite the Etruscan territories from the North of Tuscany and the Po Valley. Styles and methods of writing over time were affected by continuous changes, which can be noticed in the documents throughout the exhibit.
Voice: Melanie Neu (Spazio Seme)
Text: Andrea Gaucci
