Editing Veii (section)

==Site==
=== City of Veii===
The city of Veii lies mainly on a [[tuff]] plateau {{convert|190|ha|0|abbr=off}} in area.<ref name=AND317>{{Cite book|pages=317–342|title=Urbanization in the Mediterranean in the 9th to 6th centuries BC|editor-first=Helle Damgaard |editor-last=Andersen|edition=illustrated|publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press|first1=Alessandra|last1=Bernardinetti|first2=Anna de|last2=Santis|first3=Luciana|last3=Drago|contribution=Burials as Evidence for Proto-Urban Development in Southern Etruria: the Case of Veii|year=1997|isbn= 978-87-7289-412-6|location=Copenhagen}}</ref>

The Valchetta flows a few miles eastward to join the [[Tiber River]] on the south side of [[Labaro]] along the [[Via Flaminia]] and Veii's territory included this area.

Its proximity to the Tiber and the trade route to the interior, which became the Via Flaminia, augmented its prosperity. The Veiians were known to trade with nearby Greece, as well as with the Phoenicians that made up the Levant region. Many Grecian pottery shards have been found throughout the site, dating from as far back as the 8th century BC.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Veii/ | title=Veii }}</ref> Although the river brought wealth and affluence to Veii, it also placed it in competition with Rome for the domination of [[Latium]]. 

The temple of [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]] was the greatest and most honoured in the city.<ref name="Plutarch: Camillus">Plutarch: Camillus</ref>

The largest visible monument is the [[Portonaccio (Veio)|sanctuary of Minerva]] from the 7th c. BC, situated along an important route just outside the city (at modern Portonaccio). Prior to their influx of wealth around the 7th century BC, the people of Veii preferred to worship their gods and goddesses in the open air. Early "temples" consisted of small shrines surrounded by foliage. Due to their affinity to the stars, many Veiians preferred to worship under the night sky. Once the city began to prosper, an official temple was built of wood and stone. The sanctuary was one of the oldest and most revered in Etruria, standing out for its sumptuous polychrome terracotta decorations, many of which can be seen today in the [[Villa Giulia]]. The sanctuary included the temple of Apollo of about 510 BC to which belonged the [[Apollo of Veii]] (now in the National Etruscan Museum).

The impressive thermal baths and the forum built under [[Augustus]] have been partially excavated in recent years.

Many rich ''[[tumulus|Tumuli]]'' and [[chamber tomb]]s have been found. The most famous is the [[Grotta Campana]] uncovered in 1843, a chamber tomb with the oldest known Etruscan [[fresco]]es.

There are also long tunnels leading into the plateau of the city, which may corroborate [[Livy]]'s account of the Roman victory in the Battle of Veii.

The walls of Veii, of which small sections remain, bordered the two intersecting streams using the streambeds as a ditch, with a wall across the plateau closing the triangle.<ref>{{Cite book|page=195|title=A comparative study of thirty city-state cultures| editor-first=Mogens Herman |editor-last=Hansen|first=Mario|last=Torelli|contribution=The Etruscan City-State|publisher =Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab|year=2000|isbn= 978-87-7876-177-4|location=Copenhagen}}</ref>

===Piazza d'Armi===

Every Etruscan stronghold was built on an elevation, and Veii was no exception. Its ''arx'', or citadel, was placed on a bluff delineated by cliffs within the angle of confluence of the two streams, nearly separated from the main ridge by a gully, through which ran a road in the Roman period. An archaeological site, Piazza d'Armi ("military square"), marks the location today.

===Etruscan League===

Despite the many mysteries surrounding the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan League]], it is well documented that the league was one of the most influential organizations in the Mediterranean. Because the Etruscan civilization was split into a federation of city-states, the league allowed the leaders of each to come together and discuss a variety of topics. Like [[Congress]] or the [[United Nations]], the statesmen would discuss issues regarding laws, taxes, and territorial disputes. Although little is known about the league itself, scholars have found that the city-states shared a common religion, as well as different variations of the same language. The leaders met on a yearly basis at the Fanum Volumnae Sanctuary near [[Orvieto]].<ref name="auto"/> 

===Art===

Veii's sculptures and statues were made of [[terracotta]]. Most ceramic vessels were decorated with intricate details. Depictions of the everyday life of Etruscans were very common.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/etru/hd_etru.htm | title=Etruscan Art &#124; Essay &#124; the Metropolitan Museum of Art &#124; Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History }}</ref> Many uncovered vases and bowls portray images of farmers harvesting crops and raising animals, as well as blacksmiths in the midst of working in a raging fire. Battle victories, as well as other accomplishments, were very popular subjects in funerary ceramics. 

As population and wealth flourished within the city, the use of bronze became more and more common. The people of Veii first used metal for horse harnesses, weapons, fans, jewelry, and mirrors.

===Burial practices===
The use of burial and cremation altered depending on the stability of the settlement. In the early years, most citizens were cremated. As affluence increased, individuals were freer to bury their loved ones close by in order to visit them regularly. Burial sites dating back to the 9th century BC have been uncovered. As inhumation became more and more popular, the [[Sarcophagus|sarcophagi]] became more and more intricate. Through the use of terracotta, local sculptors began using their talents to add adornments around the coffins, creating detailed accounts of the deceased's life, as well as the deities that meant the most to them. Tombs were commonly decorated with sentimental objects, as well as items they may need in the afterlife.  

During times of war or economic difficulty, the use of cremation rose. Unlike their ancestors, however, the people of Veii continued the tradition of burial by keeping the urns of their loved ones in miniature tombs. Like the sarcophagi, the urns were made of terracotta and depicted varying scenes important to the diseased individual. Items were still placed in the small tombs; however, the value of the objects steadily dropped as times of financial crisis continued.

===Etruscan language===
Over 10,000 Etruscan written pieces are known. Varying examples of Etruscan script have been uncovered all over the ancient world.