The Tomb of the “Infernal Quadriga”: A Masterpiece of the Etruscan Underworld
A demon with red hair and robes blown by the wind drives a chariot pulled by two lions and two griffins, engulfed in a great black cloud. This extraordinary scene unfolds just after crossing the gate of the Underworld, revealing a unique vision of the Etruscan afterlife.
Beyond the gate, two deceased figures lie on a triclinium bed, affectionately greeting each other: a father and son reunited in the afterlife to remain together forever at the eternal banquet. It is an image of deep humanity and familial bond, contrasting with the ferocity of the monsters inhabiting the Underworld.
The Monsters of the Underworld
A massive three-headed serpent with a red crest and a black beard coils in a single green spiral: one of the monstrous creatures inhabiting the afterlife. But the deceased are not alone in their journey. Protecting them is the demon Charun (Charon), who guides them through their passage to the Underworld, depicted with power in the renowned “Tomb of the Infernal Quadriga.”
Symbols and Metaphors
Dominating the back wall is a large hippocampus, half horse and half fish, symbolizing the marine world. Alongside the small dolphins running beneath the entire scene of the chariot and banqueters, it represents the transition from land to sea—a metaphor for the dive that marks the passage from life to death.
This artistic masterpiece is not only a testament to the Etruscan vision of the afterlife but also an unparalleled work of art that explores the universal themes of life, death, and memory.
Learn More
If you want to delve deeper into the mystery and beauty of the “Tomb of the Infernal Quadriga” and the Etruscan world, visit the website of the Sarteano Etruscan Museum:
www.museoetruscosarteano.it
