Where Did The Etruscans Come From?

Etruscology website ^ | June 2002 | Dieter H. Steinbauer

[SunkenCiv]

Nevertheless, after more than a century of research, the linguistic relationship between Lemnian and Etruscan -- despite the scanty material -- is nowadays established to a large extent as an undeniable fact. The phonemic systems can not be set to coincide completely, yet it is significant that apart from the already mentioned four vowel system parallels exist in the consonant inventory, too. There are two varieties of s (here written s and sh) and no indications of the voiced plosives b, d, g, while next to each other are to be found in both languages t and th (no aspirate sound like the Greek one, but rather pronounced like ty). Evident conformities exist in the vocabulary between Etruscan (ET, Ta 1.169:) avils machs shealchlsc (literally: "at (=-s) years at four and (=-c) at sixty"), and Lemnian mav shialchveis avis (literally: "four at (=-s) sixty at years"). The common translation, "at 64 years", is of course depending on the values assigned to the Etruscan numerals. In view of the extremely meagre vocabulary of the Lemnian language possible interpretations must rely almost completely on so far decoded Etruscan expressions. Yet, the interpretation of mav and mach is based additionally on the fact that in the (Indo-European) Anatolian language Luvian the word "four" is called maua.

[SunkenCiv]

Many more sites about this stele, although I thought there was a topic on FR.

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[SunkenCiv]

Please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[spyone]

Where is Lemnia?

[SunkenCiv]

Ancient Mediterranean Lingual 'Incongruity'
Cyclone Covey

A Pelasgian stele on Lemnos proves anomalous only as a survival of Pelasgian writing, not as Etruscan-related in the Aegean before Classical Greek eradication of the Luvian-speaking remnant of Mycenaean culture. Etruscan tombs in Italy retained Mycenaean-style frescoes. Romans, whom urbane Etruscans largely civilized while ruling, retained much of Mycenaean-Etruscan culture, including sarcophagi and other funerary practices, purple-bordering of magistrates, horsemanship, political organization, soothsaying, lanterns, cisterns, taverns, and legends of a migration via Carthage after the fall of Troy.

[garyhope]

I'm guessing either Tuscany or New Jersey.

[SunkenCiv]

The Lemnos Stele
by Ray Brown
December 2004

It will be seen that the text contains no voiced plosives, but it does show a sries of unaspirated voiceless plosives and of aspirated voiceless plosives which is exactly what we find in Etruscan. Furthermore, only four vowels are attested: a, e, i and o. Etruscan also has only four vowels: a, e, i and u. If the Lemnian language is related to Etruscan, then clearly Lemnian o will correspond to Etruscan u. We do not know what sound z denoted in either language.

[SunkenCiv]

Etruscan Texts: Lemnian Stele
by unknown

shivai sialchveish avish marashm av

holaieshi naphoth shlashi vanacasial sheronai morinai <->c

evistho sheronaith aker tavarshio

shivai avish sialchvish marash <->m avish aomai

holaiesh phokiasiale

sheronaith evistho toveronarom haralio

shivai epteshio arai tish thoke

[jocon307]

Will you still need me? Will you still feed me, when I'm 64?

[SunkenCiv]

I used to know where it is, but I got amlemnia.

[rimshot!]

It refers to the isle of Lemnos.

[SunkenCiv]

Obligatory tinfoil hat item:

The Etruscan Cryptolect: A New Theory On The Origins And Language Of The Etruscans
by H.T. Bryer

Using the Etruscan vocabularies contained in Massimo Pallottino's The Etruscans 1975, and Larissa Bonfante's Etruscan, 1990, as a basis for reliable comparison I will demonstrate the possibility that Etruscan is a cryptolect which was ingeniously devised by the Etruscan priestly and ruling castes whose primary language and culture was decidedly Italic. Like their cousins the Celtic Druids (who possessed a cryptic speech called Ogham) the Etruscan Haruspices framed their secret language for both religious and secular reasons.

[SunkenCiv]

Indo-European Chronology

Despite many bright statements which can be found on the Web nowadays, the Etruscan problem remains with us, and their origin and their language classification are still unknown. If we summarize all that has been said and found about Etruscans, we can see that the majority of discoveries confirm ancient theories of their Asiatic homeland. Several historical facts, archaeological relics, words from Egyptian, Greek and Italic sources, some similarities between Etruscan and Hurrian languages, and finally the problem of the Lemnos Stele - all these are in favour of Asia Minor as the original land of Etruscans.

They came to Italy and occupied northern and partly central districts of the peninsula. Soon, due to overseas trading and contacts with higher civilizations of Phoenicians, Greeks and Egyptians, Etruscans acquired writing, invented their own alphabet and brought up their original culture, so unlike other cultures of that time Europe.

[SunkenCiv]

"finiculee finiculah finiculee finiculah..."

[Prost1]

Paris, after the fall of Troy, took the remaining population back to their homeland, Etruscia...

The Trojans were Etruscans. The Etruscans were most likely Semites. imo...

[martin_fierro]

Where Did The Etruscans Come From?

Etruscany.

Next question.

< |:)~

[Drammach]

If I recall correctly, Etruscans also claim the earliest use of conrcrete/cement construction in Italy..

Not sure if it was used earlier than that, but it was the Etruscans that introduced it to Roman architecture..

[neb52]

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia03/greece_sm03.gif

[neb52]

Have you read "The Etruscan" by Werner Keller(1974). He theorized they were remnants of Lydia. I guess he wasn't to far off?

[NYer]

Interesting. There are many small villages in southeastern Italy whose dialects retain certain Etruscan words and expressions. In the Province of Molise, for example, the capitol is Campobasso. The locals refer to it as 'Campo-ash' (sp?).

Yet another example.

In Italian, young boy = ragazzo. In dialect - 'oochitla' (sp?)
Young girl = ragazza. In dialect - 'achitla' (sp?)
Upstairs = sopra. In dialect - 'ingup' (sp?)
Downstairs = sotto. In dialect - 'bal' (sp?)

[ValerieUSA]

But did the Etruscans have red hair?

[PoorMuttly]

".....unaspirated voiceless plosives and of aspirated voiceless plosives....."

Hey! They must be talking about you...'splosions an' all.

Even though it must be fun when your widgets do splode at work, I bet you voicelessly aspirate from time to time...I mean...as voicelessly as can be 'spected.