The Etruscans thrived in what is now central Italy for nearly a millennium, from around 900 to 100 B.C. Then came the rise of Rome and history largely forgot them. Which is ironic, given that the Romans took so much from the Etruscans. The toga, the temple, the arch, hydraulic engineering, winemaking, and even the numerals we still call Roman—all originated in the Etruscan civilization. Etruscans were accomplished metalworkers, jewelers, and ceramicists. They spoke their own language. This show at the Legion of Honor is the most comprehensive exhibition on Etruscan culture ever mounted in the U.S. It brings together over 150 works that include bronze and terracotta sculpture, gold jewelry, ceramics, architectural elements, and the oldest surviving piece of Etruscan writing. —Elena Clavarino