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Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Tomb of the Triclinium
Etruscan tomb in the Necropolis of Monterozzi near Tarquinia, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia
- Coordinates
- 42°14′56″ N, 11°46′18″ E
History and description
The Tomb of the Triclinium (Italian: Tomba del Triclinio) ) is an Etruscan tomb in the Necropolis of Monterozzi (near Tarquinia, Italy) dated to approximately 470 BC. The tomb is named after the Roman triclinium, a type of formal dining room, which appears in the frescoes of the tomb. It has been described as one of the most famous of all Etruscan tombs.
Since its discovery in 1830, the tomb's frescoes have deteriorated and lost some of their color and detail. In 1949 they were moved to the Tarquinia National Museum to conserve them. Thanks to watercolor copies made by Carlo Ruspi shortly after the tomb's discovery, it is still possible to see the frescoes in their former state. The artistic quality of the frescoes has been described as superior to many other Etruscan tombs, and is thought that the artist who decorated the tomb was a Greek metic.
Description
The tomb consists of a single room. The fresco on the back wall shows a banquet scene, borrowed from depictions of drinking scenes on Attic red-figure pottery from the early fifth century. The banqueteers recline on three couches called klinai. On the floor under the klinai a cat prowls towards a rooster and a partridge. On the left wall three female dancers, one male dancer and a male musician with a barbiton appear. They are placed between small trees filled with birds. On the right wall a similar scene is shown. On the entry wall two youths jump down from their horses. They may be apobates or a reference to the Dioscuri as intermediaries between the earthly life and the afterlife.
The similarities between the frescoes in the Tomb of the Triclinium and Tomb 5513 (also in the Necropolis of Monterozzi) led Steingraber to conclude that they were the products of the same workshop. The strong influence of red-figure Attic vase painting has convinced some experts that the artist who decorated the tomb was a Greek metic.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Tomb of the Triclinium».
Photos
Getting there
TarquiniaTrain, nearest
3.8 km as the crow flies
Tomb of the Triclinium
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
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- Free 1st Sunday
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Tomb of the Triclinium?
Tomb of the Triclinium is in Tarquinia, in the province of Viterbo (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 42.24875, 11.77160.
What else is there to see near Tomb of the Triclinium?
Nearby you’ll find: Tomb of the Leopards (0 m away), Necropoli del Calvario (200 m away), Necropolis of Monterozzi (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 02 banchetto funebre — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 03 danzatrice — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 04 citaredo — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 05 danzatori — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 06 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 07 simposio — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Tombe du Triclinio, Tarquinia - détail - Antiquité étrusque - btv1b84189977 — Public domain
- Etruskischer Meister 001 — Unknown, Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences