Animus Classics Journal: Vol. 2, Issue 2

46 Rina Rossi
scholarship has had on interpreting Etruscan history. Similar to John
Boardman’s belittling of Etruscan achievements in art, it is possible
that the Etruscans may have achieved even more in their economies.
Perhaps there are more independent Etruscan achievements with regards
to trade and economic prosperity that have been erased by scholars
who have interpreted Etruscan history through a Greek-centric or
Roman-centric lens, and have potentially attributed their traditions in
coinage to the Greek model, even when unnecessary. Thus, one may ask:
is it possible for modern scholars of the ancient western Mediterranean
to truly understand the economy of Etruria if many aspects of Etruscan
history—such as their achievements in trade, religion, and art—have
been shown to have contributed greatly to the production of their coinage
and economy? In order to answer this question, scholars analyzing
Etruscan history must commit to examining the roots of their initial
assumptions about the Etruscans before making subsequent conclusions
about the ancient group, as much of Etruscan history has been
overlooked or erased by the Greeks and Romans.