Etruscan mythology

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Image:Turms.jpg
A sculpture from Veii of Turms, the Etruscan god equivalent to the Roman Mercury and Greek Hermes.
Etruscan mural of the Greek god Typhon.
Etruscan mural of the Greek god Typhon.

The Etruscans were a people of unknown origin living in Northern Italy, who were eventually integrated into Rome. Many of the deities listed below eventually became part of the Roman pantheon.

Very few Etruscan texts have survived: only two short, incomplete texts, and only a modest number of grave inscriptions. The Etruscan language itself is not yet very well understood. The works of earlier Latin writers on Etruscan religious survivals would have filled the gap, if any of them had survived.

Any modern discussion of Etruscan mythology will have to be based on the publication of the Praenestine cistae: some two dozen fascicles of the Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum have now appeared. Specifically Etruscan mythological and cult figures appear in the Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae. Etruscan inscriptions have recently been given a more authoritative presentation by Helmut Rix, Etruskische Texte.

The primary trinity included Tinia, Uni and Menrva.

[edit] List of Etruscan mythological figures

Name Information InterWiki
Achle Legendary hero of the Trojan War, from the Greek Achilles.
Aita Also Eita. God of the underworld and ruler of the dead, equated with the Roman Hades and Greco-Roman Pluto. it
Aivas Tlamunus, Aivas Vilates Also Eivas or Evas. Etruscan equivalents of the Greek heroes Ajax, son of Telamon and Ajax, son of Oileus.
Alpan Also Alpanu. A goddess of love and one of the Lasas, and a ruler of the underworld. Possibly equated with the Greek goddess Persephone. In art, she was usually depicted as a nude or semi-nude winged maiden. it sr
Ani God of the sky who lived in the highest level of the heavens. He may be linguistically linked to the Roman god Janus. bg it sr
Apulu Later Aplu. Sun god, often depicted in art with a staff and laurel branches. He was clearly derived from the Greek god Apollo. cs it nl sr
Artume Also Aritimi, Artumes or Artames. Goddess of the night, the moon, and death, as well as nature, forests, and fertility. She is derived from Greek goddess Artemis. it tr
Atunis Also Atuns. The Etruscan incarnation of the popular life-death-rebirth deity. He is a consort for Turan. Originally non-Etruscan, directly from Greek Adonis.
Cautha Also Cath or Catha. Claimed to be a sun goddess. She is also believed to be a goddess of beginnings and the dawn and was also shown rising from the ocean. it
Celu Earth deity, equivalent to the Greek Gaia.
Charun A psychopomp who delivered dead souls into the underworld, as well as the guardian of the entrance to the underworld. He was commonly depicted as a blue fiend with a vulture's nose, pointed ears, red hair, and feathered wings, and carried a double-headed mallet-style hammer. He was also sometimes depicted as a man with red hair and a beard. He was in origin a non-Etruscan god[citation needed], from Greek Charon. Charontes are possibly linguistically linked to him. fr it
Cilens Also Celens.
Culsans God of doors and doorways, corresponding to the two-faced Roman god Janus. it
Culsu Also Cul. A female underworld demon who was associated with gateways. Her attributes included a torch and scissors. She was often represented next to Culsans. de
Easun Etruscan version of the Greek legendary hero Jason.
Feronia An obscure rural goddess primarily known from the various Roman cults who worshipped her. (Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita book 1, chapter 30, section 5) it lt
Fufluns Also Puphluns. God of plant life, happiness, health, and growth in all things. He was the son of Semla and was worshipped in the Fufluna or Pupluna, which the Romans called the Populonia. He was briefly adopted by the Romans, but soon replaced by other Italic fertility gods. He may have been equivalent to Bacchus (Dionysus) under the name Pacha. it
Heracle Later Hercle or Hercl. Etruscan form of the legendary hero known to the Greeks as Heracles and the Romans as Hercules, associated with strength and water. The difference between the Greek and Roman names for this figure is a result of the Etruscan influence on the Romans. Old Etruscan Heracle was reduced to Hercle due to regular syncope by about 500 BC. The name is in origin from Greek Hēraclēs. it
Horta Goddess of agriculture (highly conjectural). it tr
Laran God of war. In art, he was usually portrayed as a naked young man with a helmet and spear. Laran's consort was the love goddess Turan, mirroring the relationship of Ares, the deity from the Greek pantheon who Laran would later be merged with, and Aphrodite, Turan's equivalent. Laran was also fused with his companion, Veive, in the process. it
Lasa Plural Lasas. The gods and goddesses who accompanied Turan, goddess of love, and served as guardians of graves. it
Lasa Vecu Goddess of prophecy, associated with the nymph Vegoia[citation needed].
Leinth Faceless goddess who waited at the gates of the underworld with Aita.
Lethans Also Letham. Protector goddess of the underworld.
Mania Goddess of the dead in Etruscan and Roman mythology, not to be confused with the Greek goddess of insanity, Mania. She ruled beside Mantus and was said to be the mother of the Lares, Manes, ghosts, and other spirits of the night. it
Mantus God of the underworld and husband of Mania in both Etruscan and Roman mythology. They were associated with the city of Mantua, which may derive its name from Mantus. it lt
Maris God of agriculture and fertility, and a savior deity. He was later associated with—and probably the source of the name of—the Roman god Mars. Mars in turn was later associated with the Greek god Ares, causing Mars' agricultural aspect to shrink in proportion to his warrior aspect over time.
Menerva Later Menrva. Goddess of wisdom, war, art, schools, and commerce. The Etruscan counterpart to the Greek Athena and Roman Minerva. Like Athena, Menrva was born from the head of her father, Tinia. Menrva, Tinia and Uni were part of a ruling triad of gods. it nl ro
Nethuns God of the sea. He was equivalent to Greek Poseidon and Roman Neptune. While worshipped by Etruscans, the source of the name Nethuns is non-Etruscan and most likely borrowed directly from Latin Neptunus. It is therefore cognate with that of the Celtic god Nechtan and the Vedic Apam Napat, all from an ancient Indo-European deity whose name is based on the Proto-Indo-European word *nepōts "grandson, nephew".[citation needed]
Nortia Goddess of fate and chance. Unattested in Etruscan texts but mentioned by Roman historian Livy (Livy vii. 3. 7). Her attribute was a nail, which was driven into a wall in her temple during the Etruscan new year festival as a fertility rite. it
Persipnei Later Ferspnai. Queen of the underworld, equivalent to the Greek Persephone and Roman Proserpina. Again, the difference between these two deities' names is in part a result of Etruscan influence.
Satres God of time and necessity. Depicted as an old man carrying a sickle and an hourglass. Equivalent to the Roman god Saturn.
Selvans Also Selva. Woodlands god cognate with the Roman god Silvanus.
Semla Earth goddess and mother of Fufluns. Possibly related to the Greek goddess Semele. it
Sethlans Also Velchans. God of fire and the forge, often wielding an axe. Equivalent to the Greek Hephaestus and Roman Vulcan.
Tarchies Also Roman spelling Tages. God of wisdom. Mentioned by various Roman authors (Cicero, De Div. ii 50, 51; Ovid, Met. xv 558 ff; Lucan, i 637). He commonly appeared at ploughing-time and taught Etruscans divination. He is either the son or grandson of Tinia (Roman Jove), or he was born directly from a freshly-plowed lot. He was depicted as having two snakes for legs, and some sources claimed that he was a daemon.
Taitle The Etruscan form of the Greek mythological figure Daedalus.
Tarchon An Etruscan culture hero who, with his brother, Tyrrhenus, founded the Etruscan Federation of twelve cities.
Tecum God of the lucomenes, or ruling class.
Thalna Goddess of childbirth and wife of Tinia. She was depicted in art as a youthful woman. it nl tr
Thesan Goddess of the dawn associated with the generation of life. She was identified with the Roman Aurora and Greek Eos. Her name literally means "dawn". de hr it
These A hero who is the eqivalent of the Greek Theseus.
Thethlumth God of fate and the underworld.
Thufltha A fury, inflicting punishment on behalf of Tinia.
Tinia Alternatively Tins. Chief Etruscan god, the ruler of the skies, husband of Uni, and father of Hercle. Associated with the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. cs it nl ro
Tiur Moon deity. The word tiur literally means "moon".
Tluscva The pair of earth deities Tellus and Tellumo.
Tuchulcha Deity residing in the underworld. She was part human and part donkey, had hair made of snakes, and a vulture's beak. Scholars do not agree on the gender of this deity, some seeing beard where others see beastly neck; some seeing breasts while others see a male chest.
Turan Goddess of love and vitality and patroness of the Etruscan city of Vulci. She was usually depicted as a young winged girl in art. Pigeons and black swans were her sacred animals, and her retinue was called the Lasas. She was also the wife of Maris. She was associated with the Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus. Her name is a noun meaning "the act of giving" in Etruscan, based on the verb stem tur- 'to give'. She was the only Etruscan deity known to have a cult around her. [1] de it ro scn
Turms God of trade and merchandise, and messenger of the gods. One aspect of his, Turns Aitas (literally "Turms of Aita"), was the leader of the dead. Commonly depicted with winged shoes and a herald's hat, nearly identical to Hermes and Mercury. it
Tvath Goddess of resurrection and love for the dead, related to the Greek Demeter.
Tyrrhenus An Etruscan culture hero and twin brother of Tarchon.
Uni Supreme goddess of the Etruscan pantheon, wife of Tinia, mother of Hercle, and patroness of Perugia. With Tinia and Menrva, she was a member of the ruling triad of Etruscan deities. Uni was the equivalent of the Roman Juno, whose name Uni may be derived from, and the Greek Hera. nl

it
Usil Sun god. Conjectured by modern authors based on the term 'usil' but the deity is not mentioned in any classical sources.
Vanth Underworld winged demon often depicted in the company of Charu/Charun. She could be present at the moment of death, and frequenty acted as a guide of the deceased to the underworld[2] In art, she was depicted with imagery such as scrolls, torches, and keys. No Greek counterpart. de cs
Veive God of revenge and an associate of Maris. In art, he was depicted as a youth holding a laurel wreath and some arrows, standing next to a goat. it tr
Veltha
Vetis Underworld god of death and destruction.
Vicare Son of Taitle, derived from the Greek mythological figure Icarus.
Voltumna The chthonic (earth) god of Etruscan myth, who later became the supreme Etruscan god. He was the patron of the Etruscan race. His cult was centered in Volsini. He was the equivalent of the Roman seasonal deity Vertumnus. de it

[edit] References

  1. ^ Emeline Hill Richardson, The Etruscans: Their Art and Civilization. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1964, 1976, (ISBN 0-226-71234-6) p. 243.
  2. ^ de Grummond, N. T. 2006. Etruscan Mythology, Sacred History and Legend: An Introduction. University of Pennsylvania Museum Publication. p. 220-5

[edit] See also

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