A Discovery About Cortona's Mythological Origins

The town of Cortona originated from a Greek helmet

Last year for the first time in my life I was intrigued by the Etruscans. I had never taken them into consideration, despite the fact that the Etruscans lived in the areas of Umbria where I have lived. What piqued my interest and drew me to the Etruscans was a 3D reconstruction video of a Greek helmet that was found in an Etruscan tomb dated 1st century B.C.

I had this helmet made by a local artisan and I have been wearing it as a lucky charm.

My favorite helmet is housed in the Museo Archeologico
 di Perugia. This helmet was found in an Etruscan tomb

Time passed and in the meantime, I have visited the most important Etruscan museums in my area: Perugia, Chiusi, Corciano and Cortona.

However, only a few weeks ago I discovered something truly amazing about this Greek helmet. According to mythology, this Greek helmet was the origin of the town of Cortona. I have learned these pieces of news by accident by reading a book about Cortona:

"Cortona, mother of Troy and grandmother of Rome" as the ancient proverb goes. Virgil wrote in the Aeneid (III:167, VII:209) that the city was founded by the hero Dardanus, epic son of Jupiter and Electra, who, having lost his helmet during a fight in the Val di Chiana, consulted an oracle. The response left no room for interpretation: Mother Earth had hidden it in her womb because she wanted a turreted and impregnable city - just like the helmet - to rise in that place. It was thus that, obeying destiny, Dardanus built the walls of the new city. Then according to the myth, he went to Asia where his descendants founded Troy. "

After I read this story I like to think that the noble Etruscan whose Greek helmet was found in his tomb was aware of this mythological story, that he had kept this helmet as a treasure in his life and that he wanted it in his tomb as a symbol of eternity.

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I do. I have shared this story with my archaeologist friend and with an elementary school visiting Cortona. Now happy to share the story with you, armchair traveler friends!

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