Aegyptiaca in Central Tyrrhenian Italy: sea routes, traders and ideas

Even though Aegyptiaca have been sometimes underestimated in the past, nowadays they are considered one of the hallmarks of the relationship between the Etruscan and Italic people and the rest of the Mediterranean at the beginning of the Italian Iron Age. Starting from the most recent studies, this brief synthesis aims to provide an updated synopsis on several aspects linked to these items. In particular it will focus firstly on defining the main areas of production (Egypt, Levant and the Aegean), then on tracing the possible sea-routes and the people involved in the circulation process. The second part of the communication will outline the situation of Etruria, Latium and Campania, where Aegyptian and Aegyptianizing objects are mainly concentrated between the 8th and the 7th century BC, also considering the reception (and the possible re-elaboration) of foreign cultural and religious values and the common and different trends among the indigenous communities.