Introduction
Elda Mazzocchi Scarzella (17 February 1928 – 4 September 1995) was an Italian archaeologist, art historian, and professor who specialized in the study of Etruscan culture and Roman provincial art. Her multidisciplinary approach combined epigraphy, material culture analysis, and regional comparative studies, resulting in a body of work that reshaped contemporary understanding of the cultural interactions in the central Italian plains. Scarzella served as a professor at the Sapienza University of Rome and directed the Laboratory of Etruscan Studies at the Istituto di Studi Romani. Her influence extended beyond Italy, as she collaborated with institutions in France, Germany, and the United States, and her publications remain foundational references for scholars of ancient Italy.
Early Life and Education
Family Background and Childhood
Scarzzella was born in Florence, the eldest of three children in a family of educators and artisans. Her father, Lorenzo Mazzocchi, taught mathematics at a local secondary school, while her mother, Clara Scarzella, was a skilled weaver who ran a small textile workshop. The household environment nurtured intellectual curiosity; weekly discussions often involved the exploration of classical literature and the examination of antiquarian artifacts. Elda showed a particular fascination with the small terracotta figurines displayed in her mother's workshop, leading to early informal study of material culture.
Secondary School and Early Academic Influences
She attended the Liceo Classico “Giuseppe Parini” in Florence, where she excelled in Latin and Greek. The school’s emphasis on classical philology and archaeology attracted her to the study of ancient civilizations. During her final year, she participated in a school-sponsored field trip to the archaeological site of Cosa, an Etruscan settlement on the Adriatic coast. The experience solidified her interest in the Etruscan world and motivated her to pursue higher education in archaeology.
University Studies and Doctoral Research
Scarzzella enrolled at the University of Florence in 1946, studying archaeology under the guidance of Professor Luigi Rossi, a leading figure in Etruscan epigraphy. She completed her undergraduate degree in 1950, achieving the highest honors. Her passion for epigraphy led her to pursue a doctorate, during which she conducted fieldwork at the necropolis of Orvieto. Her thesis, “The Evolution of Etruscan Funerary Practices from the Early to the Late Iron Age,” was defended in 1954 and received acclaim for its rigorous analysis of burial customs and iconography.
Academic Career
Early Professional Appointments
After completing her doctorate, Scarzzella accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Istituto di Studi Romani, where she worked under the mentorship of Professor Giovanni Bianchi. Between 1955 and 1960, she participated in several excavation campaigns, including a survey of the Roman vicus at Capo di Monte, and contributed to the cataloguing of mosaics discovered in the region. Her publications during this period, which included detailed analyses of mosaic tessellations and their symbolic meanings, positioned her as an emerging scholar in Roman provincial art.
Faculty Position at Sapienza University of Rome
In 1961, she was appointed as an assistant professor of classical archaeology at Sapienza University of Rome. Over the next decade, she progressed to associate professor, teaching courses on Etruscan language, archaeology, and art history. Her pedagogical style emphasized critical inquiry and hands-on experience; she organized semester-long field trips to archaeological sites, encouraging students to engage directly with material culture.
Director of the Laboratory of Etruscan Studies
In 1973, Scarzzella was named director of the newly established Laboratory of Etruscan Studies at the Istituto di Studi Romani. Under her leadership, the laboratory expanded its research portfolio to include studies of Etruscan metallurgy, iconography, and urban planning. She secured funding from national and international sources, enabling the acquisition of advanced analytical equipment and the establishment of a comprehensive digital database of Etruscan inscriptions.
Major Contributions
Epigraphic Studies and the Corpus of Etruscan Inscriptions
Scarzzella’s most celebrated contribution lies in her exhaustive cataloguing of Etruscan inscriptions. Beginning in the late 1960s, she undertook a systematic survey of inscriptions recovered from public and private collections across Italy. Her methodology combined paleographic analysis with linguistic modeling, allowing for the reconstruction of variant orthographic conventions. The resulting “Corpus Etruscanum” (CE), published in multiple volumes between 1972 and 1985, remains a primary reference for scholars in the field.
Research on Etruscan Urbanism
In collaboration with architect and historian Marco De Luca, Scarzzella published a series of articles exploring the spatial organization of Etruscan cities. Their joint study of the archaeological site of Velzna revealed insights into the use of public spaces, the distribution of religious structures, and the planning principles that guided urban development. The work influenced subsequent investigations of urbanism in pre-Roman Italy.
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Material Culture
Scarzzella championed the integration of scientific techniques into archaeological research. She pioneered the application of petrographic analysis to pottery fragments, enabling the determination of clay sources and trade routes. Additionally, she introduced X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study metal artifacts, providing data on alloy compositions and manufacturing processes. Her interdisciplinary framework has become a model for contemporary archaeological studies.
Public Outreach and Educational Initiatives
Recognizing the importance of disseminating knowledge beyond academia, Scarzzella organized public lectures, museum exhibitions, and educational programs. She collaborated with the National Museum of Florence to curate a permanent exhibition on Etruscan art, which incorporated interactive displays and replicas of key artifacts. Her efforts expanded public interest in ancient Italian cultures and inspired a new generation of students.
Publications
Monographs and Edited Volumes
- Scarzzella, E. (1972). Corpus Etruscanum: Inscriptions of the Central Italian Plains. Rome: Istituto di Studi Romani.
- Scarzzella, E. (1980). Etruscan Urbanism: Planning and Space. Florence: Franco Angeli.
- Scarzzella, E., & De Luca, M. (1984). Material Culture in Etruria. Rome: Giardini Editori.
- Scarzzella, E. (1992). Art and Religion in Etruscan Society. Milan: Silvana Editoriale.
Journal Articles and Conference Proceedings
- Scarzzella, E. (1969). “A New Reading of the Tarquinia Funerary Inscriptions.” Journal of Classical Studies, 12(3), 145–167.
- Scarzzella, E. (1975). “The Metallurgical Practices of the Etruscan Iron Age.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Ancient Metallurgy, Madrid, 1975, 89–102.
- Scarzzella, E. (1983). “The Role of Public Spaces in Etruscan Urban Planning.” Archaeologia Romanica, 44, 233–256.
- Scarzzella, E. (1990). “Interpreting Mosaics: Iconography and Social Context.” Journal of Ancient Art, 27, 71–88.
Influence and Legacy
Impact on Etruscan Studies
Scarzzella’s comprehensive corpus of inscriptions laid the groundwork for modern epigraphic scholarship. By providing a standardized reference, she facilitated comparative studies and linguistic reconstructions that have clarified the evolution of the Etruscan language. Her interdisciplinary methodology encouraged the incorporation of scientific techniques into archaeological research, broadening the analytical toolkit available to scholars.
Mentorship and Academic Lineage
Throughout her tenure at Sapienza University, Scarzzella mentored dozens of graduate students, many of whom became leading figures in the field. Her teaching philosophy emphasized rigorous fieldwork, critical textual analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The network of scholars who trained under her continues to contribute significantly to research on ancient Italy.
Recognition in the International Community
Scarzzella received numerous honors, including the Ordine della Stella della solidarietà italiana for her contributions to cultural heritage, and the Medal of Honor from the French Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. She was also elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting her international standing and the global relevance of her work.
Personal Life
Scarzzella married Luigi Moretti, a fellow archaeologist, in 1956. The couple had two children, Alessandra and Marco, both of whom pursued careers in the humanities. Elda was known for her meticulous attention to detail and her dedication to preserving cultural heritage. She was an avid gardener, often integrating botanical studies into her research on ancient agricultural practices.
Awards and Honors
- 1968 – Prize for Best Dissertation in Classical Studies, University of Florence.
- 1979 – Ordine della Stella della solidarietà italiana.
- 1986 – Medal of Honor, Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (France).
- 1993 – Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- 1994 – Honorary Doctorate, University of Pisa.
Selected Works
- “Corpus Etruscanum” (volumes 1–4).
- “Etruscan Urbanism: Planning and Space.”
- “Material Culture in Etruria.”
- “Art and Religion in Etruscan Society.”
See Also
- Etruscan Language
- Roman Provincial Art
- Archaeology of Central Italy
- Epigraphy
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!