Echoes of Eternity: Etruscan Faces Revealed

The Archaeological Museum of Water in Chianciano Terme inaugurates the exhibition “Echoes of Eternity: Etruscan Faces Revealed”, dedicated to the Etruscan canopic jars from the Tolle necropolis, a treasure that is unique in the world.

The Archaeological Museum of Water in Chianciano Terme enriches its collection with the exhibition Echoes of Eternity: Etruscan Faces Revealed, an initiative that showcases the largest collection of Etruscan canopic jars currently in existence, the result of excavations in the Tolle necropolis conducted between 1996 and 2011. Over a hundred tombs, restored and displayed in 2015, now offer visitors a unique opportunity to understand Etruscan society of the 7th century BC.

The Archaeological Museum of Chianciano Terme is participating in The Etruscans 85–25 project, promoted by Regione Toscana together with Fondazione Musei Senesi and Associazione Musei Archeologici della Toscana, which celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the major events of 1985 dedicated to Etruscan civilization.

The canopic jars of the Necropolis of Tolle

Thirty-two faces that transcend the centuries to tell the story of life, death, and identity in one of the most ancient civilisations: the Etruscans: an extraordinary selection of canopi, anthropomorphic funerary urns dating to the 7th–6th centuries BCE, from the necropolis of Tolle (excavated between 1996 and 2011), the largest collection of its kind in the world.

This group, selected from a larger assemblage of over one hundred urns, is now housed in a completely renovated permanent exhibition space, designed to offer visitors an immersive and engaging experience. The canopi, cinerary urns typical of Etruscan culture, stand as a unique testament to the art and spirituality of this ancient people.

This new permanent section highlights thirty-two anthropomorphic funerary urns, selected for their symbolic value and for the significance of their archaeological contexts — such as twins or family members buried together in the same tomb. The multi-level layout allows visitors to appreciate both the aesthetic characteristics of each canopic jar and the physiognomic features of the characters represented, offering an overview that tells the story of the emerging class in Tolle during the Orientalizing period.

The exhibition is enriched with educational panels and unexpected cultural references, such as the famous photograph of Alfred Hitchcock dressed as a canopic jar during his visit to the Spina Exhibition in 1961, highlighting the echo of these figures in the contemporary imagination.

The same room also houses a cast of the Mater-Matuta, symbol of physical recomposition through the ossuary, the perfect continuation of the canopic ideal. The exhibition also offers an in-depth look at the scientific research conducted from the early studies of L. A. Milani in 1884 to the present day, with historical films never before shown to the public that tell the story of the canopic jars and their replacement over time.

An Extraordinary Collection

Anthropomorphic jars were placed in ziro (large storage jar) tombs, chamber tombs, and cist tombs, as revealed by the excavation of the large necropolis of Tolle, which has yielded the most numerous and diverse collection of such objects known to date. To emphasise the social rank of the deceased, the urns could be placed on a high-backed seat, usually made of terracotta and sometimes of stone or bronze. To further highlight the human character of these ossuaries, the canopi were often wrapped in cloth fastened with bronze or iron fibulae — a deliberate gesture aimed at preserving the customs and clothing traditions of earthly life. The anthropomorphisation of the cinerary urn was intended to restore a physical identity to the deceased, one that had been lost in the funeral pyre but reconstructed through the depiction of generic anatomical features.

Inauguration

The inauguration, held on Sunday 26 October 2025, saw an exceptional turnout of both the public and institutional representatives, including the Mayor of Chianciano Terme, Grazia Torelli, the President of Regione Toscana, Eugenio Giani, and Carolina Taddei, coordinator of the Fondazione Musei Senesi.

The presentations by Museum Director, Giulio Paolucci, and the Archaeologist Ada Salvi of the Soprintendenza per l’Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto e Arezzo explored the historical, scientific, and cultural significance of the collection, highlighting the importance of enhancing and protecting the Tolle materials within the framework of current heritage legislation.