Etruscan (Reading the Past) - Softcover

Bonfante, Larissa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520071182 ISBN 13: 9780520071186

Publisher: University of California Press, 1990

Synopsis

Before the rise of Rome, the Etruscans dominated central Italy commercially and culturally. Significantly, it was the Etruscans who passed the alphabet on to the Romans. But in the first century B.C., when they had become Roman citizens and begun to speak Latin, their own language died out.

Being of non-Indo-European origin, Etruscan is extremely difficult to interpret, and the difficulty is increased by the fact that no Etruscan literature survives. A certain amount has, however, been reconstructed from inscriptions. Here Dr. Bonfante sets out the rudiments of pronunciation and grammar as they are understood so far. Analyzing inscriptions on a wide variety of objects, including mirrors and gems, vases, sarcophagi and coins, she shows what these fragmentary writings contribute to our knowledge of this still largely mysterious people.

The book also contains a list of Etruscan personal names and a glossary of Etruscan vocabulary. A final chapter discusses the Agnone Tablet, an important inscription in Oscan, which was spoken in central Italy at the same time as Etruscan.

About this title

About the Author:

Larissa Bonfante is Professor of Classics at New York University and author of numerous books and articles on Etruscan language and culture.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0520071182
• ISBN 13: 9780520071186
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64