DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0050
1 MYTHOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF ETRURIA. [introduction.
they were never arrayed in arms against each other; and this
must have been the effect of their religion. Yet it was her
system of spiritual tyranny that rendered Etruria inferior to
Greece. She had the same arts—an equal amount of scientific
knowledge—a more extended commerce. In every field had
the Etruscan mind liberty to expand, save in that wherein lies
man's highest delight and glory. Before the gate of that
paradise where the intellect revels unfettered among specula-
tions on its own nature, on its origin, existence, and final
destiny, on its relation to the First Cause, to other minds, and
to society in general—stood the sacerdotal Lucumo, brandish-
ing in one hand the double-edged sword of secular and ecclesi-
astical authority, and holding forth in the other the books of
Tages, exclaiming, to his awe-struck subjects, "Believe and
obey!" Liberty of thought and action was as incompatible
with the assumption of infallibility in the governing power in
the days of Tarchon or Porsena, as in those of Gregory XVI.
The mythological system of Etruria is learned partly from
ancient writers, partly from national monuments, particularly
figured mirrors. It was in some measure allied to that of
Greece, though rather to the early Pelasgic system than to that
of the Hellenes; but still more nearly to that of Rome, who in
fact derived certain of her divinities and their names from this
source.
The three great deities, who had temples in every Etruscan
city, were Tina or Tinia—Cupra—andMENRVA, or Menerva/
Tinia was the supreme deity of the Etruscans, analogous to
attack on Sutrium, then in the power rison. That the conquered portion were
of the Romans. Liv. IX. 32. Veii ready to unite with their Etruscan
just before her capture estranged her- brethren when occasion offered, is
self from the rest of the Confederation, proved in the case of Nepete. Liv.
which refused succour in her need. VI. 10. Caere, however, was in more
Liv. V. 1, 17. When Sutrium and independent alliance with Rome, but
Nepete are called the allies of Rome, even she at one time was urged by the
and are said to have besought assist- sympathy of blood to sever this alliance;
ance against the EtruscaDs (Liv. VI. and it does not appear that she was ever
3, 9, 10), this must refer to the Roman, in arms against her fellow cities of the
not the Etruscan population, for the Etruscan Confederation. See Vol. II.
latter, from the small size of the towns, pp. 24, 25.
might easily be outnumbered by a gar- 1 Serv. ad Virg. Ma. I. 422.
they were never arrayed in arms against each other; and this
must have been the effect of their religion. Yet it was her
system of spiritual tyranny that rendered Etruria inferior to
Greece. She had the same arts—an equal amount of scientific
knowledge—a more extended commerce. In every field had
the Etruscan mind liberty to expand, save in that wherein lies
man's highest delight and glory. Before the gate of that
paradise where the intellect revels unfettered among specula-
tions on its own nature, on its origin, existence, and final
destiny, on its relation to the First Cause, to other minds, and
to society in general—stood the sacerdotal Lucumo, brandish-
ing in one hand the double-edged sword of secular and ecclesi-
astical authority, and holding forth in the other the books of
Tages, exclaiming, to his awe-struck subjects, "Believe and
obey!" Liberty of thought and action was as incompatible
with the assumption of infallibility in the governing power in
the days of Tarchon or Porsena, as in those of Gregory XVI.
The mythological system of Etruria is learned partly from
ancient writers, partly from national monuments, particularly
figured mirrors. It was in some measure allied to that of
Greece, though rather to the early Pelasgic system than to that
of the Hellenes; but still more nearly to that of Rome, who in
fact derived certain of her divinities and their names from this
source.
The three great deities, who had temples in every Etruscan
city, were Tina or Tinia—Cupra—andMENRVA, or Menerva/
Tinia was the supreme deity of the Etruscans, analogous to
attack on Sutrium, then in the power rison. That the conquered portion were
of the Romans. Liv. IX. 32. Veii ready to unite with their Etruscan
just before her capture estranged her- brethren when occasion offered, is
self from the rest of the Confederation, proved in the case of Nepete. Liv.
which refused succour in her need. VI. 10. Caere, however, was in more
Liv. V. 1, 17. When Sutrium and independent alliance with Rome, but
Nepete are called the allies of Rome, even she at one time was urged by the
and are said to have besought assist- sympathy of blood to sever this alliance;
ance against the EtruscaDs (Liv. VI. and it does not appear that she was ever
3, 9, 10), this must refer to the Roman, in arms against her fellow cities of the
not the Etruscan population, for the Etruscan Confederation. See Vol. II.
latter, from the small size of the towns, pp. 24, 25.
might easily be outnumbered by a gar- 1 Serv. ad Virg. Ma. I. 422.