Etruscans and Greeks Between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas

This contribution examines the changing relationships between Etruscans and Greeks across the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas from the Early Iron Age to the fifth century BCE. It presents the ancient Mediterranean as a connected space shaped by seafaring, trade, migration, and cultural negotiation. Greek contacts and settlements brought new practices and ideas, which Etruscan communities adapted to local traditions and social needs. Ports, sanctuaries, imported goods, and locally made objects reveal these exchanges, while the movement of artisans and the circulation of images show how Greek and Etruscan worlds influenced one another. The chapter also traces the growing importance of Adriatic routes and the role of Spina and Bologna in networks linking Italy with the wider Mediterranean.