DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0046
xlvi
THE ETRUSCAN ALPHABET.
[introduction.
through epitaphs, I subjoin the Etruscan alphabet, confronting
the characters with the Greek.
A
F\fW
n 11
E
taa
p <icn
Z
:£ :£, rarely 5J 3
2 /A MIX
0
<$>O®0O
T N KT>T
I
1
t y V' rarely ^1 ^
K
>}, rarely )|)j
* #08
A
v/sl
x 4*4" 4/'rarely X
M
wv^ m
Aspirate |£j
N
NAH^ n
Digamma ~1 ^l *1
The Etruscan alphabet, it will be seen, wants the B, T, A, E, *,
the H, and both the o and Q- In the custom of writing from
right to left, and of frequently dropping the short vowels, the
Etruscan bears a close oriental analogy. Indeed it is clear that,
like the Pelasgic, the Greek, and other kindred alphabets, this
had its origin from Phoenicia.8
The numerals known to us by the name of Roman, are in
reality Etruscan; and were originally not only read from right
to left, but were inverted.
The government of Etruria in external form bore some
resemblance to a federal republic, each of its Twelve States or
Cities having a distinct internal sovereignty, yet combining in
a league of amity and mutual assistance—such a confederation,
s Whether these characters came di-
rectly from Phoenicia into Etruria, or
were received through Greece, is a dis-
puted point. Miiller maintains the lat-
ter. Etrnsk. IV. 6, 1. Mr. Daniel
Sharpe, who has had more sources of
information in the recent discoveries in
Lycia, declares, that " it may he proved,
from a comparison of the alphabets, that
the Etruscans derived their characters
from Asia Minor, and not from Greece."
Fellows'Lycia, p. 442. The resemblance,
indeed, of the Etruscan alphabet to the
Lycian is striking—still more so that
which it hears to the Phrygian, such as
it is seen on the tombs of Dogan-lu. See
Walpole's Travels, and Steuart's Lydia
and Phrygia.
THE ETRUSCAN ALPHABET.
[introduction.
through epitaphs, I subjoin the Etruscan alphabet, confronting
the characters with the Greek.
A
F\fW
n 11
E
taa
p <icn
Z
:£ :£, rarely 5J 3
2 /A MIX
0
<$>O®0O
T N KT>T
I
1
t y V' rarely ^1 ^
K
>}, rarely )|)j
* #08
A
v/sl
x 4*4" 4/'rarely X
M
wv^ m
Aspirate |£j
N
NAH^ n
Digamma ~1 ^l *1
The Etruscan alphabet, it will be seen, wants the B, T, A, E, *,
the H, and both the o and Q- In the custom of writing from
right to left, and of frequently dropping the short vowels, the
Etruscan bears a close oriental analogy. Indeed it is clear that,
like the Pelasgic, the Greek, and other kindred alphabets, this
had its origin from Phoenicia.8
The numerals known to us by the name of Roman, are in
reality Etruscan; and were originally not only read from right
to left, but were inverted.
The government of Etruria in external form bore some
resemblance to a federal republic, each of its Twelve States or
Cities having a distinct internal sovereignty, yet combining in
a league of amity and mutual assistance—such a confederation,
s Whether these characters came di-
rectly from Phoenicia into Etruria, or
were received through Greece, is a dis-
puted point. Miiller maintains the lat-
ter. Etrnsk. IV. 6, 1. Mr. Daniel
Sharpe, who has had more sources of
information in the recent discoveries in
Lycia, declares, that " it may he proved,
from a comparison of the alphabets, that
the Etruscans derived their characters
from Asia Minor, and not from Greece."
Fellows'Lycia, p. 442. The resemblance,
indeed, of the Etruscan alphabet to the
Lycian is striking—still more so that
which it hears to the Phrygian, such as
it is seen on the tombs of Dogan-lu. See
Walpole's Travels, and Steuart's Lydia
and Phrygia.