The Etrusco Roman era

A tomb hewn out of the rock of Sperandio, dating from the latter half of the sixth century B.C., proves that the Perugia was in existence during that period. Many generations had lived there since the Etruscans had taken possession of the hill.
The first historical references to Perugia are furnished from Etrusco-Roman chronicles. In that epoch, from the fourth to the third centuries B.C.., we must imagine the hilltop enclosed in an unbroken bulwark of stone walls with gates and towers. The Etruscans, masters of the art of building fortifications, built a noble arch in the Etruscan wall. This arch is a true roundheaded structure of excellent proportions: the most nearly perfect of all the Etruscan arches which are left to us. The wall-building is magnificent; massive, rectangular blocks of travertine are laid down in perfectly regular courses fitted together without mortar or cement.
For at least 500 years Perugia played an important part as one of the twelve city-states of the Confederacy of Etruria. Further, it was the only one of them which maintained its independence almost up to the beginning of the Christian era.
Perugia whose one of the last capital cities of Umbria subdued by Rome in 40 B.C. Etruria, as a nation, ceased to exist but Perugia, as a city, did not suffer an absolute death. The inhabitants wan must have been men and women of high courage. They could still find some shelter behind their walls and rebuild houses with the Roman victor permission.
In the course of years the streets were again laid out and became filled with busy life. Augustus sent immigrants to the city, but it was not constituted a Roman colony either in name or in fact. One relic of Roman occupation still exists: a building housing a fragment of Roman mosaic depicting Orpheus and the animals. The mosaic (beginning of the II century A.C.) is probably part of the floor of a bath house.
Etruscan and Roman, after the first bitterness had died out, appear to have lived together in reasonable harmony. They had many religions beliefs and observances in common, in fact, Rome had, for many years, been accustomed to sending her noble youths to learn the Etruscan discipline in Etruria.