DESCENT GROUP

DESCENT GROUP
   The important constituent part of Etruscan social structure, which represented the family through time and was extensively celebrated in ancestral cults. Studies of burial groups may give an indication of the precise formation of the descent group. Some tombs may be defined as agnatic, since the only identifiable individuals are men. The most common pattern is of tombs that contain the male descent group together with women who have married into the descent group. In a number of cases, the unmarried daughters are included. In the later tombs of North Etruria, married women’s remains were also allowed to return to their male descent group at the time of death. Occasionally, although the male line remained dominant, some kin from the female line were permitted to enter the tomb as well. Purely female tombs and collective non-kin burials did occur but were much rarer. The descent group increased its power by intermarriage and enlarged landownership, as shown prominently in the case of the Curuna. Recent work suggests considerable slippage between descent groups, permitting mobility and changing ascription of identity. Well-attested examples of stable descent groups include the Cai Cutu and Volumni from Perugia, the Matuna and Tarxna from Caere, the Alenas, Ceisinie, Curuna, Murinas, Pinie, Pulena, Pumpu, Salvie, Smurina, Spitu, Spurinna, Velcha from Tarquinia, the Hescana and Leinie from Orvieto, the Tolumne of Veii, the Satie of Vulci, and the Marcni and Hepni from North Etruria. Some descent groups showed mobility between their original cities, such as the Tarna (who expanded from Caere to Vulci), or the velie (who expanded from Orvieto to the later foundations of Musarna and Tuscania), or the Tute (who expanded from Vulci and Tuscania into North Etruria), or the influential Vipena (who are found in a number of cities in South Etruria).
   See also ELOGIA; GENTILICIUS; IDENTITY; SOCIAL CLASS.

Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans. .

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • descent group — These are kin groups who are lineal descendants of a common ancestor. Unilineal descent is either matrilineal (if traced through the mother) or patrilineal (traced through the father s line). Bilateral descent can be traced through either line.… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • descent — /di sent /, n. 1. the act, process, or fact of descending. 2. a downward inclination or slope. 3. a passage or stairway leading down. 4. derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction. 5. any passing from higher to lower in degree or state;… …   Universalium

  • group, descent — See descent group …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation) — Descent Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Stephen Hawking s hologram playing cards …   Wikipedia

  • Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram) — Descent of the Ganges Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram * UNESCO World Heritage Site …   Wikipedia

  • Descent 3 — Developer(s) Outrage Entertainment Publisher(s) Interplay Productions …   Wikipedia

  • Descent from antiquity — (DFA) is the project of establishing a well researched, generation by generation descent of living persons from people living in antiquity. It is an ultimate challenge in prosopography and genealogy. The idea is by no means new. Hellenistic… …   Wikipedia

  • Descent: Journeys in the Dark — The box for the game Players 2 5 Setup time < 30 minutes Playing time 2 to 4 hours Random chance …   Wikipedia

  • Descent into the Depths of the Earth — The cover of the Descent into the Depths of the Earth compilation module, with art by Jim Roslof. The artwork depicts a party of adventurers fighting a band of kuo toa. Code D1–2 Rules required Advanced Dungeons Dragons 1st editio …   Wikipedia

  • group — group, social group A number of individuals, defined by formal or informal criteria of membership, who share a feeling of unity or are bound together in relatively stable patterns of interaction. The latter criterion is necessary in order to… …   Dictionary of sociology

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”