Clusium

Clusium was an ancient city-state of the Etruscan civilization, located at the site of present-day Chiusi in Tuscany, central Italy, near Lake Chiusi. As one of the larger Etruscan urban centers, it served as a political and economic hub within the region and is known from both Greek and Latin sources as well as archaeological remains.

In Roman-era historiography, Clusium is best known for its association with the events surrounding Rome’s early Republic. According to Livy, Lars Porsena, the king of Clusium, led a coalition of Etruscan forces to the siege of Rome in 508 BCE after a political crisis in the city. The episode has since entered classical literature and later became a familiar motif in poetry and prose, including works that recount the legendary prowess of Clusine and its rulers.

Archaeological and epigraphic evidence from Chiusi shows that the site continued to be inhabited and culturally productive through the Etruscan and early Roman periods. Excavations have uncovered city walls, temples, and a wealth of tombs and inscriptions, highlighting Clusium’s role as a major center of Etruscan life and its integration into Roman Italy after conquest. The site’s later history reflects the broader pattern of urban continuity and eventual decline typical of many Etruscan cities as Roman power expanded.

Today, Chiusi preserves the legacy of Clusium. The town hosts museums and archaeological sites that present Etruscan and Roman-era remains, and its historical name remains a reference point in classical literature and in Italy’s regional heritage of Tuscany.