When someone mentions ancient civilizations of antiquity, most of us think of the mighty Romans. But long before the Romans came to be the great power they are still known for, there were the Etruscans. This enigmatic culture was native to the Italian peninsula and ruled over a region known as Etruria, which stretched between the Tiber and Arno rivers and was bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west.

While there is evidence of a distinct Etruscan culture dating back to the 9th century BCE, we know for sure that they flourished from the 7th century BCE until the 3rd century BCE, when they were conquered by the Romans. While their history may have been eclipsed by the Romans, archaeological finds tell the story of this fascinating culture. It turns out that the Etruscans were quite advanced, and their influence still survives today.