DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0033
introduction.] TRADITIONS—NIEBUHR'S OPINION. xxxm
The dissentient voice, however, is of great importance—that of
Dionysius of Halicarnassus—one of the most accurate and
diligent antiquaries of his times, and an authority considered
by many as sufficient to outweigh the vast body of opposing
evidence. His objections are two-fold. First—that Xanthus,
an early native historian of Lydia, " particularly well versed in
ancient history," makes no mention of such an emigration.
Secondly—that neither in language, religion, laws, nor customs,
was there any similarity between the Lydians and Etruscans—
i. e. as they existed in his day. He consequently broached a
view entirely different from that recorded by other ancient
writers, viz., that the Etruscans were an indigenous people of
Italy, seeing that they were unlike every other race in language,
manners, and customs.3 This view has been adopted by a
modern Tuscan writer of celebrity, who, however, may be sus-
pected of national prejudice, when he attempts to prove that the
early civilization of Italy was indigenous."
A different opinion was held by the great Niebuhr—that the
Etruscans were a tribe from the Rhsetian Alps, who conquered
the Tyrrhene-Pelasgi, the earlier possessors of the land. This
opinion is worthy of all respect, as coming from such a
man, but seems to me to derive little support from ancient
writers.5 Nor does the well-known fact that ancient monu-
is this :—In the reign of Atys there was 3 Dion. Hal. I. pp. 22—24.
a protracted famine in Lydia ; and in * Micali, Ant. Pop. Ital. I. cap. VII.
order to forget their misery the people 5 Niebuhr, I. p. 110, et seq. So great
had recourse to games and amusements, an authority naturally takes in its train
and invented dice, and ball, the pipes a crowd of German writers, not un-
and the trumpet; abstaining from food willing to adopt an opinion so nattering
on alternate days when they gave them- to the vaterland. The view, however,
selves up to these new diversions. For of a Rheetian origin of the Etruscan
eighteen years they thus continued to race had been previously held by Freret,
exist, but at length, their condition being and by Heyne. It is founded on the re-
in no way improved, it was agreed that semblance of the name « Rasena," which
half the nation should emigrate, under the Etruscans gave themselves, to
the conduct of Tyrrhenus, the king's Rhseti—on the statement of the ancients
son. After various wanderings, they that the Rhseti were of Etruscan origin
reached the coast of Umbria, and there —on the analogy certain dialects now
established themselves, exchanging the spoken in those regions bear to the
name of Lydians for that of Tyrrhenians, Etruscan — and on the fact that no
in honour of their leader. earlier population than the Etruscan
O
The dissentient voice, however, is of great importance—that of
Dionysius of Halicarnassus—one of the most accurate and
diligent antiquaries of his times, and an authority considered
by many as sufficient to outweigh the vast body of opposing
evidence. His objections are two-fold. First—that Xanthus,
an early native historian of Lydia, " particularly well versed in
ancient history," makes no mention of such an emigration.
Secondly—that neither in language, religion, laws, nor customs,
was there any similarity between the Lydians and Etruscans—
i. e. as they existed in his day. He consequently broached a
view entirely different from that recorded by other ancient
writers, viz., that the Etruscans were an indigenous people of
Italy, seeing that they were unlike every other race in language,
manners, and customs.3 This view has been adopted by a
modern Tuscan writer of celebrity, who, however, may be sus-
pected of national prejudice, when he attempts to prove that the
early civilization of Italy was indigenous."
A different opinion was held by the great Niebuhr—that the
Etruscans were a tribe from the Rhsetian Alps, who conquered
the Tyrrhene-Pelasgi, the earlier possessors of the land. This
opinion is worthy of all respect, as coming from such a
man, but seems to me to derive little support from ancient
writers.5 Nor does the well-known fact that ancient monu-
is this :—In the reign of Atys there was 3 Dion. Hal. I. pp. 22—24.
a protracted famine in Lydia ; and in * Micali, Ant. Pop. Ital. I. cap. VII.
order to forget their misery the people 5 Niebuhr, I. p. 110, et seq. So great
had recourse to games and amusements, an authority naturally takes in its train
and invented dice, and ball, the pipes a crowd of German writers, not un-
and the trumpet; abstaining from food willing to adopt an opinion so nattering
on alternate days when they gave them- to the vaterland. The view, however,
selves up to these new diversions. For of a Rheetian origin of the Etruscan
eighteen years they thus continued to race had been previously held by Freret,
exist, but at length, their condition being and by Heyne. It is founded on the re-
in no way improved, it was agreed that semblance of the name « Rasena," which
half the nation should emigrate, under the Etruscans gave themselves, to
the conduct of Tyrrhenus, the king's Rhseti—on the statement of the ancients
son. After various wanderings, they that the Rhseti were of Etruscan origin
reached the coast of Umbria, and there —on the analogy certain dialects now
established themselves, exchanging the spoken in those regions bear to the
name of Lydians for that of Tyrrhenians, Etruscan — and on the fact that no
in honour of their leader. earlier population than the Etruscan
O