Il Giglio (Part 2 of 3)

The Etruscans:  Another explanation of the giglio's origin is based on a legend involving the Etruscans.  The Etruscans lived in central Italy long ago, starting more than 2,500 years ago. 

The legend goes something like this: 

The Etruscans had a well-developed civilization and were deeply religious.  One focus of their devotion was a place named Montòvolo.  It was the sacred mountain of the Etruscans.  The mountain is located not too far north of Florence and its nearby neighbor, Fiesole, an ancient Etruscan town. 

On top of Montòvolo, the Etruscans built a temple.  In the Montòvolo temple and elsewhere in the region, archaeologists have discovered many religious artifacts from the Etruscan era that include a carving or other depiction of a flower or a bouquet of flowers. The flowers were possibly a symbol of the divine--perhaps a goddess of the Spring or fertility.  Possibly, the flower represented a devotional offering to the gods.

A carving in the crypt of Montovolo, possibly a former Etruscan temple

Another source of uncertainty is the specific type of flower found on Etruscan artifacts.  Whether the flower is a lily, iris or another flower is unclear.  Those types of flowers as well as other types are prevalent in Tuscany, including on top of Montòvolo. 

Still another source of uncertainty is whether the Etruscans originated the flower symbol or borrowed it from another people or place.  The other people could be the Iron Age people and their ancestors who were already living where Etruscan civilization arose and flourished.  The other place is the eastern Mediterranean region where some people believe the Etruscans or their ancestors originated.  So, certainty is elusive. 

What seems certain is that the flower symbol was prevalent in Etruscan culture in central Italy long before the arrival of the Romans and long before the establishment of ancient Florence.  So, it seems like a safe guess that the Etruscan flower persisted through the ages and eventually became the stylized lily symbolizing Florence for the past 1,000 years.    

Next Up:  A lot of giglio.