Final answer:
The Temple of Minerva utilized wood for its superstructure, tufa for the foundations, mud brick for the walls covered in stucco, and a wood roof with terracotta tiles. Etruscan temples, like the one at Veii, were unique in their square floor plans and decorative roofline with akroteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original Temple of Minerva, which is well known from the Portonaccio site, primarily used wood for the superstructure and tufa for its foundations, which is consistent with the architectural practices of the Etruscans. This is confirmed by archaeological remains and Vitruvius's writings. The walls of the temple were constructed from mud brick, which were then covered with stucco to protect them from the elements and to provide a surface that could be painted or polished. The roof of the temple was also made of wood but was covered in terracotta tiles to shed rainwater.
Etruscan temples, including the one dedicated to Minerva at Veii, featured a distinctive style that included akroteria on the roofline and often more square than rectangular floor plans, unlike their Greek counterparts. Foundational materials played a significant role in the construction and durability of these sacred structures, with tufa providing a stable base just as it did for many Roman buildings before the introduction of concrete and travertine.