Educational Media Reviews Online

Etruscan Odyssey is a short film produced by the Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. The film provides a brief introduction to Etruscan civilization, the people who inhabited central Italy before the Roman Empire, and how ongoing archaeology continues to add to the limited knowledge we have about the Etruscans.

After a brief introduction, we are shown how excavated sculpture illuminates the Etruscan culture, one example being the equality between women and men as evidenced by sculptures depicting them banqueting and conversing together. In the contemporary Greek civilization women and men never dined together, and Etruscan women were considered scandalous.

The second half of the film introduces two groups of students digging at actual excavation sites. The students discuss how they became interested in archaeology and the meticulous records they must keep of their findings. Historians also expound on the ethical treatment of archeological discoveries.

Due to the short running time, the historical information in Etruscan Odyssey is spare. Viewers looking for in-depth information about Etruscan civilization should look elsewhere. Otherwise, the film is engaging, with good visuals and sound. It should appeal to lower level students with an interest in ancient Mediterranean history or archeology.

The 18 minute film is accompanied on the DVD with a 5 minute summary, entitled Discovering the Etruscans.