ABSTRACT

Greek and Roman authors inform us that the administration of Etruscan cities began with kings and, in fits and starts, transitioned to elected magistrates at the end of the Archaic period, contemporary to similar developments in Athens and Rome. While the ancient authors are not overly interested in the mechanics of the Etruscan political system, this study will examine Etruscan evidence, along with evidence from Greek and Roman authors, in order to flesh out a diachronic impression of political life in Etruria, aiming to demonstrate in particular how the different city-states were governed across their territories, and to what extent there was any federal activity in Etruria. Such a study also provides an idea of what Etruscan citizens might have expected from their magistrates and their city-state overall, in terms of administration, public works and law.