Many of the paintings found in 6th and 5th century BC tombs depict scenes of feasting with dancing, music making and drinking.
The practice of holding a banquet, in which the participants recline, consume large quantities of food and wine and are entertained by music and dancing, was originally a West Asian custom. The Etruscans probably first learned of the practice through the Greeks at the end of the 8th century BC.
On the left hand side of this picture we see one of the participants in a banquet holding a Greek drinking cup, or 'kylix'. The musicians on his left play an 'aulos', or double flute, and a lyre.
The interpretation of such feasting scenes remains obscure. Some scholars have suggested such parties could be interpreted as celebrations held in honour of the dead. Others maintain they represent life after death as imagined by the Etruscans.
