Meer deals with the interpretation of paintings or painted reliefs on 148 coffins of Etruscan stone sarcophagi that can be dated between about 350 and about 200 BC. After a historical outline, he looks at chronology; find-spots; usually family tombs; and the status, age, and body length of the deceased. For the first century and a half of their production, he finds, Trojan and Theban myths are especially popular themes, but after the conclusive Roman conquest of Etruria in 280-264 AD, non-mythological themes predominate. He also considers whether the symmetry is decorative or meaningful, and the special characteristics of children's sarcophagi. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)