The Etruscan World (Routledge Worlds)

Margarita Gleb a

Figure 4 2.1 Wooden throne from Tomba del Trono, Verucchio, circa 700 bce: two central scenes in

the top register depict women at their looms (after von Eles 2002, Fig. 127).

Figure 42.2 Bronze tintinnabulum from Tomba degli Ori, Arsenale Militare, Bologna,

late seventh century bce: a) side A, with scenes of spinning (top) and dressing the distaffs (bottom);

(b) side B, with scenes of weaving (top) and warping (bottom). © Bologna Museo Civico Archeologico,

reproduced with permission.

SPINNING

After the fiber mass has been prepared, it can be converted into a yarn by twisting and
drawing out, or drafting, the fibers - the process known as spinning. Spinning was
accomplished in Etruria on a suspended or drop spindle. A drop spindle is a simple rod
with a hook or dent on top to attach the thread and a clay or stone whorl to sustain rotary
movement. The type of spindle used in ancient Italy, and north of the Mediterranean in
general, was a low-whorl spindle, in which the whorl was attached to the lower end of
the spindle rod. An actual example of such a spindle has been found in the submerged
village of Gran Carro in Lake Bolsena, dated to the early ninth century bce (Fig. 4 2.3).12
However, since most spindle shafts used in Antiquity were made of wood, often the only
evidence for their use consists of the less perishable spindle whorls. The vast majority
of spindle whorls in Italy are made of fired clay (Fig. 4 2. 4 ), although examples made
of luxury materials such as glass and amber have also been found in Etruscan burial
contexts. Spindle whorls, often in large numbers, have been found on practically every
settlement site in Etruria. A variety of whorl shapes and sizes are known and may reflect
a relationship between the shape of the whorl, the speed of spinning and the tightness
of the twist. A smaller diameter will cause the whorl to rotate faster and, therefore, to
produce a tighter twist than could be accomplished with a wider whorl of the same
weight. Hence, different whorls were required for different types of yarn.

a b