DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5009#0395
368 HANDBOOK OF ARCHMOLOGY.
Bunsen adopts Niebuhr's view of the Ksetian origin of the Etrus-
cans, and advances the theory that the Etruscan bears strong marks
of a mixed language, from the circumstance of such grammatical
forms as have been ascertained being evidently analogous to what
we know of Indo-Germanic flexions, whereas the greater part of the
words which occur in the inscriptions prove most heterogeneous.
On the other hand, the Tyrrhenic glosses in Hesychius, and the in-
scription found about 183G at Agylla, contain words much more
akin to the Greco-Latin stock. A mixed language of this kind
would be the natural consequence of a non-Italic tribe having taken
possession of Tyrrhenia or the Mediterranean part of Central Italy,
subdued the Italic indigenous population, and finally adopted their
language, as the Norman conquerors did that of the Saxon, or the
Arabs that of Persia. The intrinsic nature of the language, as we
find it on the monuments, leads also to the conclusion that the
Greek words were a foreign element, received but not understood.
Making every allowance for a different system of vocalization, such
changes as Pultuke for Polynikes,* Akhmiem for Agamemnon, are
unmistakably barbarous, and betray an absolute ignorance of the
elements of which the Greek name is composed.
In the opinion of M filler, the Etruscans were a race which,
judging from the evidence of the language, was originally very
foreign to the Grecian, but nevertheless had adopted more of the
Hellenic civilization and art than any other race not of the Greek
family, in these early times. The principal reason, according to
him, is probably furnished by the colony of the Pelasgo-Tyrrhe-
nians, which was driven from Southern Lydia, and established
itself chiefly around Caue (Agylla) and Tarquinii. The latter
city maintained for a while the dignity of a loading member
among the confederate cities of Etruria, and always remained
the chief point from which Greek civilization radiated over the rest
of the country.
It is not compatible with the object of this short treatise to notice
more fully the different views of these authors. We now return to
our subject.
Votive inscriptions and others, which are found on vases, seals,
pedestals, small statues, utensils, are in general very short. Small
statues seldom bear inscriptions, the attributes and symbols which
they present being enough to characterise them. Small figures of
animals, pigs, wolves and even chimasra;, bear a short inscription,
which is usually the name of a divinity to which, the figure was
* Here Bunsen is incorrect. Pultuke is the Etruscan form of " Pollux," not of
rolynikcs.
Bunsen adopts Niebuhr's view of the Ksetian origin of the Etrus-
cans, and advances the theory that the Etruscan bears strong marks
of a mixed language, from the circumstance of such grammatical
forms as have been ascertained being evidently analogous to what
we know of Indo-Germanic flexions, whereas the greater part of the
words which occur in the inscriptions prove most heterogeneous.
On the other hand, the Tyrrhenic glosses in Hesychius, and the in-
scription found about 183G at Agylla, contain words much more
akin to the Greco-Latin stock. A mixed language of this kind
would be the natural consequence of a non-Italic tribe having taken
possession of Tyrrhenia or the Mediterranean part of Central Italy,
subdued the Italic indigenous population, and finally adopted their
language, as the Norman conquerors did that of the Saxon, or the
Arabs that of Persia. The intrinsic nature of the language, as we
find it on the monuments, leads also to the conclusion that the
Greek words were a foreign element, received but not understood.
Making every allowance for a different system of vocalization, such
changes as Pultuke for Polynikes,* Akhmiem for Agamemnon, are
unmistakably barbarous, and betray an absolute ignorance of the
elements of which the Greek name is composed.
In the opinion of M filler, the Etruscans were a race which,
judging from the evidence of the language, was originally very
foreign to the Grecian, but nevertheless had adopted more of the
Hellenic civilization and art than any other race not of the Greek
family, in these early times. The principal reason, according to
him, is probably furnished by the colony of the Pelasgo-Tyrrhe-
nians, which was driven from Southern Lydia, and established
itself chiefly around Caue (Agylla) and Tarquinii. The latter
city maintained for a while the dignity of a loading member
among the confederate cities of Etruria, and always remained
the chief point from which Greek civilization radiated over the rest
of the country.
It is not compatible with the object of this short treatise to notice
more fully the different views of these authors. We now return to
our subject.
Votive inscriptions and others, which are found on vases, seals,
pedestals, small statues, utensils, are in general very short. Small
statues seldom bear inscriptions, the attributes and symbols which
they present being enough to characterise them. Small figures of
animals, pigs, wolves and even chimasra;, bear a short inscription,
which is usually the name of a divinity to which, the figure was
* Here Bunsen is incorrect. Pultuke is the Etruscan form of " Pollux," not of
rolynikcs.