DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0043
introduction.] THE ETRUSCAN LANGUAGE, A MYSTERY, xliii
commercial intercourse, however extensive, for it is apparent not
merely on the surface of Etruscan life, but deep within it,
influencing all its springs of action, and imparting a tone and
character, that neither Greek example and preceptorship, nor
Roman domination could ever entirely efface. So intimate a
connection could only have been formed by conquest or
colonization from the East. That such was possible all will
admit,—that it was not improbable, the common practice of
antiquity of colonizing distant lands is evidence enough; sublime
memorials of which we still behold on the shores of Italy and
Sicily, in those shrines of a long-perished creed, now sacred to
the divinity of Hellenic genius. Had we been told that Mysia,
Caria, Phrygia, or Lycia, was the mother-country of Etruria,
we might have accepted the tradition, but as Lydia is definitely
indicated, why refuse to credit it ? To what country of the
East we may be inclined to ascribe this colonization, is of little
moment. We must at least admit, with Seneca, that " Asia
claims the Etruscans as her own."—Tuscos Asia sibi vindicate
That which in an investigation of this kind would prove of
most service is here unfortunately of no avail. The language of
Etruria, even in an age which has unveiled the Egyptian
hieroglyphics and the arrow-headed character of Babylon,
still remains a mystery. This " geological literature," as it
has been aptly termed, has baffled the learning and research
of scholars of every nation for ages past; and though fresh
treasures are daily stored up, the key to unlock them is still
wanting. We know the characters in which it is written, which
much resemble the Pelasgic or early Greek,5—we can learn even
somewhat of the genius of the language and its inflections;
intercourse with the Egyptians, Phoe- were the same as the earliest Greek,
nicians, Carthaginians, and other orien- Tacit. Ann. XI. 14. The Etruscans
tal people. are said by the same authority to have
4 Seneca, Consol. ad Helv. VI. 9. received their characters from Corinth.
5 To the Pelasgi was referred the It is certain that all the ancient alpha-
introduction of letters into Latium. bets of Italy — the Umbrian, Oscan,
Solin. Polyhist VIII. Another tradi- Euganean, Messapian, as well as the
tion says they were brought to the Etruscan—bear an unmistakable affinity
Aborigines by Evander from Arcadia, to the early Greek.
and that the ancient Latin characters
commercial intercourse, however extensive, for it is apparent not
merely on the surface of Etruscan life, but deep within it,
influencing all its springs of action, and imparting a tone and
character, that neither Greek example and preceptorship, nor
Roman domination could ever entirely efface. So intimate a
connection could only have been formed by conquest or
colonization from the East. That such was possible all will
admit,—that it was not improbable, the common practice of
antiquity of colonizing distant lands is evidence enough; sublime
memorials of which we still behold on the shores of Italy and
Sicily, in those shrines of a long-perished creed, now sacred to
the divinity of Hellenic genius. Had we been told that Mysia,
Caria, Phrygia, or Lycia, was the mother-country of Etruria,
we might have accepted the tradition, but as Lydia is definitely
indicated, why refuse to credit it ? To what country of the
East we may be inclined to ascribe this colonization, is of little
moment. We must at least admit, with Seneca, that " Asia
claims the Etruscans as her own."—Tuscos Asia sibi vindicate
That which in an investigation of this kind would prove of
most service is here unfortunately of no avail. The language of
Etruria, even in an age which has unveiled the Egyptian
hieroglyphics and the arrow-headed character of Babylon,
still remains a mystery. This " geological literature," as it
has been aptly termed, has baffled the learning and research
of scholars of every nation for ages past; and though fresh
treasures are daily stored up, the key to unlock them is still
wanting. We know the characters in which it is written, which
much resemble the Pelasgic or early Greek,5—we can learn even
somewhat of the genius of the language and its inflections;
intercourse with the Egyptians, Phoe- were the same as the earliest Greek,
nicians, Carthaginians, and other orien- Tacit. Ann. XI. 14. The Etruscans
tal people. are said by the same authority to have
4 Seneca, Consol. ad Helv. VI. 9. received their characters from Corinth.
5 To the Pelasgi was referred the It is certain that all the ancient alpha-
introduction of letters into Latium. bets of Italy — the Umbrian, Oscan,
Solin. Polyhist VIII. Another tradi- Euganean, Messapian, as well as the
tion says they were brought to the Etruscan—bear an unmistakable affinity
Aborigines by Evander from Arcadia, to the early Greek.
and that the ancient Latin characters