But Etruscans, nonetheless, wanted the elegant culture of ancient Greece in their tombs. The Etruscans had an enormous fondness for Greek art, and developed their own imitations of Greek temples. They also imported Greek pottery, which could be proudly displayed and could accompany the dead to the afterworld. [MUSIC] [INAUDIBLE] >> The vase bears the name of Alessandro Francois, an Italian, quote unquote, archaeologist of French origin who was, at that time, the royal commissar for the grand dukes of Tuscany. And he asked the grand duke the permission to dig in an area around Chiusi where he found the vase in 1844. The Francois vase is very important because it is one of the largest symposium vase made in Athens, which means a big mixing bowl for wine and water. It is painted and potted by two men of whose we know the names. Ergotimos the potter and Kleitias the painter. And they were so aware of what they were doing that they have signed the vase twice, on each side. And it has 270 figures of the Greek mythology painted on it. And 130 Greek inscriptions by which, of course, they also taught the Etruscans some words and some mythology. This is the main frieze of the vase, the most important one. The only one who goes all around the vase while the rest of the myths are represented one on one side and one on this side. It is the wedding procession for Peleus and Thetis marriage, Achilles' parents. This is the place where the potter and the painter have signed the vase. Here, under Peleus' hand, who shakes Chiron's hands, Chiron, the centaur, he welcomes the first of the row, there is the inscription, Klitias [FOREIGN], Klitias painted me. And here, after Dionysus, the most important God who is right in the center of the vase and is the largest figure of all friezes. There is, under the muzzle of this once white horse is the other inscription Ergotimos [FOREIGN], Ergotimos potted me. So it is the vase that speaks in first person, not the two men because this would have been not possible. Risking to be, to make some blasphemy, it is popularly called the Holy Bible of mythology. Because it has several myths painted on it, related to the figure of Achilles, Theseus and mainly the wedding pompe, the wedding procession for Peleus and Thetis, Achilles' parents. That was a very important mythological subject for the first half of the 6th century BC because we had it painted on a few large vases made in Athens and sent to Etruria. From mainland Greece and south Italy, the Etruscans could learn about Greek temples and how they could be constructed. Admiring the beautiful marble and fine stone, and the attention to detail that the Greek temple provided. [MUSIC]