Cerveteri

The Banditaccia Necropolis

Along the access road small mounds, or tumuli appear, covered with tombs. The extent and the splendour of the remains of this necropolis testify to the importance of the city and the Etruscan mastery of funerary architecture. The Etruscans, believing in life after death, often arranged the tombs of their dead like their own homes, thus providing an interesting testimony to us on their way of life.

Within a pleasant background of cypress, brooms and pines, the necropolis is presented in the form of a city, with a streets of tombs marked out. Among these, some consist of underground funerary chambers accessible by a door simply decorated with mouldings and have a simple and sober layout. The rooms are accessed via a hallway and often contain two funerary beds laid out side by side: one is marked with a small column when the deceased was a man (family supporter), or by a small roof in the case of a woman (protective hearth).

Other tombs are known as "tumuli ". They date from the 7th century BC., and are presented in the form of a conical mound (tumulus) resting on a circular base sometimes surrounded by mouldings. Below these are located the burial chambers.