Früheisenzeitliche etruskische und italische Zepter

Abstract

Starting from the four staffs with club-shaped pommels, which were found in the »kings’s grave« of Spoleto, prov. Perugia in Umbria, the author goes on a search for objects from Etruscan and Italic burials which can be interpreted as sceptres. It is not always easy to differentiate these from simple weapons, as the boundaries are blurred and even a profane club can become a ritual weapon and an insignia of power. By using individual find contexts, pictorial representations and comparisons with other cultures (Assyria, Egypt), however, one can succeed in proving certain forms of sceptres archaeologically. Thus, the article provides an overview and a classification of the ascertainable types of sceptres, whereby female insignia are also considered. In addition, the question of which concrete privileges of power were connected with sceptres in Italy from the 9th to 6th century BC is pursued. By that, various actual and symbolic functional levels become apparent which allow one to indicate political, military, judicial and ritual-religious components carried out by the ruler.