DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0051
introduction.] THE THREE GREAT GODS.—DII CONSENTED li
the Zeus of the Greeks, and the Jupiter of the Romans—"the
centre of the Etruscan god-world, the power who speaks in the
thunder and descends in the lightning." He is always repre-
sented on Etruscan monuments with the thunder-bolt in his
hand.8
Cupra was the Etruscan Hera or Juno, and her principal
shrines seem to have been at Veii, Falerii, and Perusia. Like
her counterpart among the Greeks and Romans, she appears to
have been worshipped under other forms, according to her
various attributes—as Peronia, Thalna or Thana, Ilithyia-
Leucothea.9
Menrva, as she is called on Etruscan monuments, answers
to the Pallas-Athene of the Greeks. It is probable that the
name by which the Romans knew her was of purely Etruscan
origin.1 She seems to have been allied to Nortia, the Fortuna
of the Etruscans.2 Like her counterpart in the Greek and
Roman mythology, she is represented armed, and with the aegis
on her breast, but in addition has sometimes wings.8
There were Twelve Great Gods, six of each sex, called Dii
Consentes or Complices. They composed the council of Tmia,
and are called "the senators of the gods "—" the Penates of the
Thunderer himself." They were fierce and pitiless deities,
dwelling in the inmost recesses of heaven, whose names it was
8 He is sometimes represented as a p. 8) takes her to be equivalent to Juno,
beardless youth. Gerhard, Etrus. Spieg. Miiller (III. 3, 8) to Tellus or Mania.
I. taf. XIV. Some have sought an See Vol. I. p. 180. For Hithyia, see
etymological relation between Tina and Vol. II. p. 14. The rites of the Etruscan
Zeus ; others to Tonans, and others Juno are described by Ovid, Amor. III.
even to the Odin of the northern my- eleg. 13 ; cf. Dion. Hal. I. p. 17.
thology, though this is pronounced by ! So thinks Miiller (Etrusk. III. 3,2),
Miiller to be accidental. Etrusk. III. notwithstanding that Varro asserts it to
3,1. Gerhard, Gottheit. p. 27. be Sabine. Ling. Lat. V. 74.
9 We learn the name of Cupra from 2 Gerhard (Gottheit. p. 10) thinks the
Strabo, V. p. 241. It has not been relation between Minerva and Nortia is
found on Etruscan monuments, where shown by the fact of the annual nail
the goddess is generally called Thalna, being driven into the temple of the
though Gerhard (Gotth. d. Etrusk. p. latter at Volsinii and of the former on
40) thinks this name is descriptive of the Capitol.
her as a goddess of births and light. 3 As in a bronze figure from Orte,
Feronia is said by Varro (V. 74) to in the Museo Gregoriano, see Vol. II.
be a Sabine goddess. Gerhard (Gotth. p. 518.
d2
the Zeus of the Greeks, and the Jupiter of the Romans—"the
centre of the Etruscan god-world, the power who speaks in the
thunder and descends in the lightning." He is always repre-
sented on Etruscan monuments with the thunder-bolt in his
hand.8
Cupra was the Etruscan Hera or Juno, and her principal
shrines seem to have been at Veii, Falerii, and Perusia. Like
her counterpart among the Greeks and Romans, she appears to
have been worshipped under other forms, according to her
various attributes—as Peronia, Thalna or Thana, Ilithyia-
Leucothea.9
Menrva, as she is called on Etruscan monuments, answers
to the Pallas-Athene of the Greeks. It is probable that the
name by which the Romans knew her was of purely Etruscan
origin.1 She seems to have been allied to Nortia, the Fortuna
of the Etruscans.2 Like her counterpart in the Greek and
Roman mythology, she is represented armed, and with the aegis
on her breast, but in addition has sometimes wings.8
There were Twelve Great Gods, six of each sex, called Dii
Consentes or Complices. They composed the council of Tmia,
and are called "the senators of the gods "—" the Penates of the
Thunderer himself." They were fierce and pitiless deities,
dwelling in the inmost recesses of heaven, whose names it was
8 He is sometimes represented as a p. 8) takes her to be equivalent to Juno,
beardless youth. Gerhard, Etrus. Spieg. Miiller (III. 3, 8) to Tellus or Mania.
I. taf. XIV. Some have sought an See Vol. I. p. 180. For Hithyia, see
etymological relation between Tina and Vol. II. p. 14. The rites of the Etruscan
Zeus ; others to Tonans, and others Juno are described by Ovid, Amor. III.
even to the Odin of the northern my- eleg. 13 ; cf. Dion. Hal. I. p. 17.
thology, though this is pronounced by ! So thinks Miiller (Etrusk. III. 3,2),
Miiller to be accidental. Etrusk. III. notwithstanding that Varro asserts it to
3,1. Gerhard, Gottheit. p. 27. be Sabine. Ling. Lat. V. 74.
9 We learn the name of Cupra from 2 Gerhard (Gottheit. p. 10) thinks the
Strabo, V. p. 241. It has not been relation between Minerva and Nortia is
found on Etruscan monuments, where shown by the fact of the annual nail
the goddess is generally called Thalna, being driven into the temple of the
though Gerhard (Gotth. d. Etrusk. p. latter at Volsinii and of the former on
40) thinks this name is descriptive of the Capitol.
her as a goddess of births and light. 3 As in a bronze figure from Orte,
Feronia is said by Varro (V. 74) to in the Museo Gregoriano, see Vol. II.
be a Sabine goddess. Gerhard (Gotth. p. 518.
d2