Discs of Splendor: Relief Mirrors of the Etruscans (Wisconsin Studies in Classics)

The Etruscans, whose culture flourished in Italy from the late eighth century B.C.E. to the first century B.C.E, produced some of the most sumptuous bronze and silver mirrors found in the ancient Mediterranean. Mirrors with relief decorations on their reverse sides are extremely rare and uniquely Etruscan. Their designs inform us about artistic styles and supplement our understanding of Etruscan culture and taste. The subjects illustrated on the mirrors give important insights into Etruscan mythology, beliefs, and cultural values, filling the vacuum left by the loss of most of their literary record.