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introduction.] ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF ETRURIA. xxxi
tion, and a generally peaceable state of society. They are not
such sites as were selected in later times, even by the Romans;
but it should be borne in mind, that the political constitution
of the people of early Italy, as of Greece, was entirely municipal
—that cities were states, and citizens soldiers—and fortifications
were therefore as indispensable to the cities of old, as standing
armies and fleets are deemed to be to the states of modern
Europe.
Before we consider the institutions of Etruria, it may be
well to say a word on the origin of the people, and the source
of their civilization.
It must be remarked, that the people known to the Romans
as Etruscans were not the original inhabitants of the land, but
a mixed race, composed partly of the earlier occupants, partly
of a people of foreign origin, who became dominant by right of
conquest, and engrafted their peculiar civilization on that
previously existing in the land. All history concurs in repre-
senting the earliest occupants to have been Siculi, or Umbri,
two of the most ancient races of Italy, little removed, it is
probable, from barbarism, though not nomade, but dwelling
in towns. Then a people of Greek race, the Pelasgi, entered
Italy at the head of the Adriatic, and crossing the Apennines,
and uniting themselves with the Aborigines, or mountaineers,
took possession of Etruria, driving out the earlier inhabitants,
raised towns and fortified them with mighty walls, and long
ruled supreme, till they were in turn conquered by a third
race, called by the Greeks Tyrrheni, or Tyrseni, by the Romans
Etrusci, Tusci, or Thusci/ and by themselves, Rasena,10 who are
9 Plin. III. 8, 19 ; Dion. Hal. I. p. etymologies of the Roman grammarians
20, et seq.; cf. Herod. I. 94. They were are rarely to be depended on. For
called Tyrseni, it is said, from the Miiller's derivation of Tyrrheni from
fortifications—-riptreis—they were the Tyrrha, a town of Lydia, see Vol. I. p.
first to raise in Italy (Dion. Hal. I. 372. Thuscia is a late word, not to be
p. 21.) ; and Tusci, or Thusci, from their found in the earlier writers. " Turzu-
frecment sacrifices — curb toS Qieiv— nia" occurs as a proper name on a
Serv. ad Virg. Mn. II. 781; X. 164; sepulchral urn of Chiusi. Bonarroti, ap.
Plin. III. 8 ; cf. Feat. v. Tuscos. Etru- Dempst. II. tab. LXXXVI.
ria is said to be derived from eVepa opia 10 Dion. Hal. I. p. 24. Some writers
—alteri fines—because it lay beyond the take Rasena to be but a form of Tyr-
Tiber. Serv. ad Mn, XI. 598. But the seni, either a corruption from it, as
tion, and a generally peaceable state of society. They are not
such sites as were selected in later times, even by the Romans;
but it should be borne in mind, that the political constitution
of the people of early Italy, as of Greece, was entirely municipal
—that cities were states, and citizens soldiers—and fortifications
were therefore as indispensable to the cities of old, as standing
armies and fleets are deemed to be to the states of modern
Europe.
Before we consider the institutions of Etruria, it may be
well to say a word on the origin of the people, and the source
of their civilization.
It must be remarked, that the people known to the Romans
as Etruscans were not the original inhabitants of the land, but
a mixed race, composed partly of the earlier occupants, partly
of a people of foreign origin, who became dominant by right of
conquest, and engrafted their peculiar civilization on that
previously existing in the land. All history concurs in repre-
senting the earliest occupants to have been Siculi, or Umbri,
two of the most ancient races of Italy, little removed, it is
probable, from barbarism, though not nomade, but dwelling
in towns. Then a people of Greek race, the Pelasgi, entered
Italy at the head of the Adriatic, and crossing the Apennines,
and uniting themselves with the Aborigines, or mountaineers,
took possession of Etruria, driving out the earlier inhabitants,
raised towns and fortified them with mighty walls, and long
ruled supreme, till they were in turn conquered by a third
race, called by the Greeks Tyrrheni, or Tyrseni, by the Romans
Etrusci, Tusci, or Thusci/ and by themselves, Rasena,10 who are
9 Plin. III. 8, 19 ; Dion. Hal. I. p. etymologies of the Roman grammarians
20, et seq.; cf. Herod. I. 94. They were are rarely to be depended on. For
called Tyrseni, it is said, from the Miiller's derivation of Tyrrheni from
fortifications—-riptreis—they were the Tyrrha, a town of Lydia, see Vol. I. p.
first to raise in Italy (Dion. Hal. I. 372. Thuscia is a late word, not to be
p. 21.) ; and Tusci, or Thusci, from their found in the earlier writers. " Turzu-
frecment sacrifices — curb toS Qieiv— nia" occurs as a proper name on a
Serv. ad Virg. Mn. II. 781; X. 164; sepulchral urn of Chiusi. Bonarroti, ap.
Plin. III. 8 ; cf. Feat. v. Tuscos. Etru- Dempst. II. tab. LXXXVI.
ria is said to be derived from eVepa opia 10 Dion. Hal. I. p. 24. Some writers
—alteri fines—because it lay beyond the take Rasena to be but a form of Tyr-
Tiber. Serv. ad Mn, XI. 598. But the seni, either a corruption from it, as