Tomb of the Bulls

The back wall of the tomb's main chamber as seen from the entrance

The Tomb of the Bulls (Italian: Tomba dei tori) is an Etruscan tomb in the Necropolis of Monterozzi near Tarquinia, Lazio, Italy. It was discovered in 1892[1] and has been dated back to either 540–530 BC[2] or 530–520 BC.[3] According to an inscription Arath Spuriana apparently commissioned the construction of the tomb.[3] It is named after the two bulls which appear on one of its frescoes.[4] It is the earliest example of a tomb with complex frescoes in the necropolis,[5] and the stylistic elements are derived from Ionian Greek culture. Along with the frescoes of the Tomb of the Whipping these paintings are relatively rare examples of explicit sexual scenes in Etruscan art, which were far more common in Ancient Greek art.[6]

Like other Etruscan tombs, it would originally have contained many grave goods, especially Etruscan pottery, now removed.

  1. ^ Steingräber 2006, p. 308.
  2. ^ Holloway 1965.
  3. ^ a b Oleson 1975.
  4. ^ Whitehead 1996.
  5. ^ Holloway 1986.
  6. ^ Steingräber 2006, p. 67–67.