Facts on the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing

The Tomb of Hunting and Fishing was created by the Etruscans, who were a group of individuals who lived in the center of Italy, prior to its beginnings as the country of Italy. This particular painting was not the only mural in the collection.  

• It is estimated that the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing was created in approximately 510 B.C. This was slightly after the Tomb of Triclinium, which was painted in 470 B.C. The tomb was painted prior to the Tomb of the Bulls, which was painted sometime between 540 and 530 B.C.


• The Etruscans who painted the tomb dwelled in an area known as Etruria, or present day central Italy. This group of people lived during the years of 1,000 B.C and 100 B.C. The Etruscan people believed in life after death, which prompted them to paint murals on tombs. The murals depicted important aspects of an Etruscan's life to comfort the individual throughout the duration of life after death. Ultimately, the images were designed to assist people in the transitional phase between real life and the life they are expected to lead postmortem.


• The Tomb of Hunting and Fishing displays an image of a young person jumping from a mountainside. Another image portrayed on the tomb is a boat filled with individuals who are fishing. Depictions of numerous birds in the sky surrounding the hill are located on the tomb. All of the pictures featured on the tomb show the Etruscan’s appreciation of nature and interest in hunting and fishing.


• The painting on the tomb was executed by using tempera colors. Tempera paint is both permanent and dries quickly. Oftentimes, it is referred to as egg tempera, because the mixture consists of a pigment blended with a binding agent and water, usually egg yolk and water. The Etruscans dabbed the paint onto a wet plaster surface to create the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.