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Wine Production and Exchange and the Value of Wine Consumption in Sixth-century BC Etruria

Riva, C; (2017) Wine Production and Exchange and the Value of Wine Consumption in Sixth-century BC Etruria. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology , 30 (2) pp. 237-261. 10.1558/jmea.35407. Green open access

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Abstract

This paper attempts to bridge the gulf between two often separate research agendas in Archaic period Etruria, one concerned with the archaeology of wine and agricultural production and redistribution, the other with figured representations of drinking and the associated symbolic visual language. It does so by examining the relationship between changing processes of production, consumption and exchange and the symbolism of drinking in the visual and material culture of sixth-century BC Tyrrhenian Etruria. In this analysis, I maintain that changing modes of agricultural production and distribution had an impact on such symbolism in elite funerary and domestic contexts, with key evidence also coming from sanctuaries. In particular, it is argued that during the seventh century BC, the visual language related to wine drinking alludes to experiences of bodily otherness; this is indicated by the symbolic correlation between accessibility to wine, the dangers of maritime travel and death. From the sixth century BC, we can trace a shift towards a visual language that centred on cultural difference or otherness: this is noticeable in the introduction of Dionysiac imagery and new mythological narratives of cross-cultural encounters, as well as a new emphasis on codified drinking and culturally differentiated drinking vessels. This shift is more or less contemporary with other changes, namely the production and distribution of agricultural surplus in the Tyrrhenian region and beyond, and shifting values of objects in that exchange.

Type: Article
Title: Wine Production and Exchange and the Value of Wine Consumption in Sixth-century BC Etruria
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1558/jmea.35407
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.35407
Language: English
Additional information: © The Fund for Mediterranean Archaeology/Equinox Publishing Ltd., 2018. This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Agricultural surplus, central Mediterranean, distribution and gift exchange, south Etruria, value, visual symbolism, wine production and consumption
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10038360
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