DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0055
introduction.] PATES.—GENII.—LARES. lv
occupied a more prominent place in the Etruscan mythology.
Such is the goddess of Fate, who is generally represented with
wings, sometimes with a hammer and nail, as if fixing unalterahly
her decrees—an idea borrowed by the Romans; but more
frequently with a bottle in one hand and a stylus in the other,
with which to inscribe her decisions. She is found with various
names attached; but the most common are Lasa, and Mean.3
A kindred goddess is frequently introduced in the reliefs on the
sepulchral urns, as present at the death of some individual, and
is generally armed with a hammer, a sword, or torch, though
sometimes brandishing snakes like a Fury.
What gives most peculiarity to the Etruscan mythology is the
doctrine of Genii. The entire system of national divination,
called "the Etruscan Discipline," was supposed to have been
revealed by a Genius, called Tages—a wondrous boy with a
hoary head and the wisdom of age, who sprung from the fresh-
ploughed furrows of Tarquinii.4 But the system of Lares and
Penates, the household deities who watched over the personal
and pecuniary interests of individuals and families, was the
most prominent feature in the Etruscan mythology, whence it
was borrowed by the Romans.5 Thence it was also, in all pro-
bability, that the Romans obtained their doctrine of an
attendant genius watching over every individual from his birth—
Genius natale comes qui temperat astrum,
who was of the same sex as the individual, and was called
Genius when male, and Juno when female. Yet we find no
positive proof of this doctrine among the Etruscans.6
Last, but brought most prominently before the eye in Etruscan
sepulchral monuments, are the dread powers of the lower world.
Here rule Manttts and Mania, the Pluto and Proserpine of
the Etruscan creed, never mentioned, though sometimes figured
in the native monuments. Mantus is represented as an old
3 See Vol. II. p. 68. introduced to indicate a fatal event, are
4 See Vol. I. p. 373. generally females—at least their sex
5 Miiller, Etrusk. III. 4, 6, 7; Ger- seldom corresponds with that of the
hard, Gottheit. d. Etrusk. p. 15. defunct. For the Genii and Junones
6 The Genii or demons who are see Vol. II. pp. 65—68.
occupied a more prominent place in the Etruscan mythology.
Such is the goddess of Fate, who is generally represented with
wings, sometimes with a hammer and nail, as if fixing unalterahly
her decrees—an idea borrowed by the Romans; but more
frequently with a bottle in one hand and a stylus in the other,
with which to inscribe her decisions. She is found with various
names attached; but the most common are Lasa, and Mean.3
A kindred goddess is frequently introduced in the reliefs on the
sepulchral urns, as present at the death of some individual, and
is generally armed with a hammer, a sword, or torch, though
sometimes brandishing snakes like a Fury.
What gives most peculiarity to the Etruscan mythology is the
doctrine of Genii. The entire system of national divination,
called "the Etruscan Discipline," was supposed to have been
revealed by a Genius, called Tages—a wondrous boy with a
hoary head and the wisdom of age, who sprung from the fresh-
ploughed furrows of Tarquinii.4 But the system of Lares and
Penates, the household deities who watched over the personal
and pecuniary interests of individuals and families, was the
most prominent feature in the Etruscan mythology, whence it
was borrowed by the Romans.5 Thence it was also, in all pro-
bability, that the Romans obtained their doctrine of an
attendant genius watching over every individual from his birth—
Genius natale comes qui temperat astrum,
who was of the same sex as the individual, and was called
Genius when male, and Juno when female. Yet we find no
positive proof of this doctrine among the Etruscans.6
Last, but brought most prominently before the eye in Etruscan
sepulchral monuments, are the dread powers of the lower world.
Here rule Manttts and Mania, the Pluto and Proserpine of
the Etruscan creed, never mentioned, though sometimes figured
in the native monuments. Mantus is represented as an old
3 See Vol. II. p. 68. introduced to indicate a fatal event, are
4 See Vol. I. p. 373. generally females—at least their sex
5 Miiller, Etrusk. III. 4, 6, 7; Ger- seldom corresponds with that of the
hard, Gottheit. d. Etrusk. p. 15. defunct. For the Genii and Junones
6 The Genii or demons who are see Vol. II. pp. 65—68.