The Etruscan language is preserved in more than 3,000 inscriptions, and this number will no doubt be doubled by the opening of new sepulchral chambers, with which the soil of ancient Etruria is teeming. These inscriptions are found on sarcophagi, urns, vases, columns, statues, and looking-glasses in bronze. The latter article was a favorite object for the representation of scenes from Greek mythology, and from this source we learn the names of the principal native deities. Tinia, was Jupiter; Usil, the sun; Fafluns, Bacchus; Sethlans, Vuleanus; Thurnis, Mercurius; Turan, Venus; Patina, Juno; T7tesan, Aurora. Some of the minor female deities are called Lasa, Claris, Mean, Vanth. The inscriptions are of two kinds—the archaic and more recent. The former, generally beginning with the syllable MI, are distinguished not merely by a more ancient form of the alphabet, but also by a more refined condition of the language. In the older inscriptions consonants and vowels are evenly balanced. But in the docu ments of a later date, short vowels are generally omitted, and in consequence, combi nations of consonants appear which remind us strongly of the cacophonous forms of some of the Slavonic languages. Compare the following specimens: 1. Xi Tesantaiai Tarchumenaia. 2. Loris Sesctna Lumscial.
With regard to the grammar, the following points may be considered as established. In the singular of nouns, the nominative ends in s; the genitive, according to the class of declension, in a-s, e-s, i-s, u-s; the dative in si or s. But these terminations are very often dropped, just as in early Latin. In the Cippus Perusiuus, both the largest and best preserved inscription of all now in existence, we find of the proper names Velthina and Afuna the cases: Velthina, Velthinam, Velthinas; Afuna, Afunam, Afunas. The suffix al serves mostly, but not exclusively, for the expression of a metronymic. Thanes Seianti for example, is the daughter of Latinia. Another
very common suffix--asa, ma, isa, the matrimonial relation of women. lhana Aulnei 1anznasa is Thana Aulneia, the. qcVe of Canzna; Tha.SetUmnei Pumpunisa is Thana Setumneia, the wife of Pomponius. It is clear that this suffix consists of the genitives in as, es, is, us, with the addition of an a, so that a and logically the wife is defined as part and parcel of her husband. Verbal forms do not occur often, but it is certain that the preterite is formed from the root by the addition of the syllable ce, like tur-ce, the-ce, lupu-ce, seal-ce. The numerals sound rather strange. Mach, thu, hunt, lei, sa, are 1 to 6; but as yet the individual meaning of each of these is unknown. The same must be said of sesphs, esal, mu or mar, the numerals for 7 to 9. Decades are expressed by alch(a)l, e.g., sespalchal, mutakhl, cealchl. Ninety was probably tantrums. The meaning of about 10 or 12 words, such as clan, son ; sech, wife; well, age; tril, year; hinthial, spirit; flercs, statue, can be clearly established; but as yet no affinity has been discovered between these and the corresponding expressions in languages, whether Arian or otherwise. The following two inscriptions are given with a translation which in one or two points is conjectural: Vipia Alsinai turce Versenas Caiia. Vibia AlsinEea dedit Versente, Cate mite.
The second is found on the celebrated bronze statue of the orator, now preserved in the museum of Florence: • Aulesi Metelis Ve Vesiai ciensi cen Iteres tece Aulo Metello Velim VesiEe filo hoc signum posuit sans' tenine tuthines chisulics. jussu concilii publici rnagistratus(?).
The few bilingual inscriptions (altogether 15) throw no light on the language, as they contain only proper names. The so-called Tyrrhenian glosses, preserved in the lexicon of Hesychius, are worse than useless for critical purposes.