Posted on 02/14/2007 8:39:18 AM PST by blam
On the origin of the Etruscan civilisation
00:01 14 February 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Michael Day
Etruscan cippus (grave marker) in the shape of a warrior head. Found in Orvieto, Italy
One of anthropology's most enduring mysteries - the origins of the ancient Etruscan civilisation - may finally have been solved, with a study of cattle.
This culturally distinct and technologically advanced civilisation inhabited central Italy from about the 8th century BC, until it was assimilated into Roman culture around the end of the 4th century BC.
The origins of the Etruscans, with their own non-Indo-European language, have been debated by archaeologists, geneticists and linguists for centuries. Writing in the 5th century BC, the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus claimed that the Etruscans had arrived in Italy from Lydia, now called Anatolia in modern-day Turkey.
To try and discover more about the Etruscans' movements, Marco Pellecchia at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza, Italy, and colleagues have analysed mitochondrial DNA in modern herds of Bos Taurus cattle in the north, south and central regions of Italy. This genetic material is passed down the female line from mother to offspring.
Genetic revelations
The team found that almost 60% of the mitochondrial DNA in cows in the central Tuscan region of the country - where the Etruscan civilisation is thought to have arisen -
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
GGG Ping.
btt
Caia deum estrucanus!
The HistoriesThe Lydians have very nearly the same customs as the Greeks, with the exception that these last do not bring up their girls in the same way. So far as we have any knowledge, they were the first nation to introduce the use of gold and silver coin, and the first who sold goods by retail. They claim also the invention of all the games which are common to them with the Greeks. These they declare that they invented about the time when they colonised Tyrrhenia, an event of which they give the following account. In the days of Atys, the son of Manes, there was great scarcity through the whole land of Lydia. For some time the Lydians bore the affliction patiently, but finding that it did not pass away, they set to work to devise remedies for the evil. Various expedients were discovered by various persons; dice, and huckle-bones, and ball, and all such games were invented, except tables, the invention of which they do not claim as theirs. The plan adopted against the famine was to engage in games one day so entirely as not to feel any craving for food, and the next day to eat and abstain from games. In this way they passed eighteen years. Still the affliction continued and even became more grievous. So the king determined to divide the nation in half, and to make the two portions draw lots, the one to stay, the other to leave the land. He would continue to reign over those whose lot it should be to remain behind; the emigrants should have his son Tyrrhenus for their leader. The lot was cast, and they who had to emigrate went down to Smyrna, and built themselves ships, in which, after they had put on board all needful stores, they sailed away in search of new homes and better sustenance. After sailing past many countries they came to Umbria, where they built cities for themselves, and fixed their residence. Their former name of Lydians they laid aside, and called themselves after the name of the king's son, who led the colony, Tyrrhenians.
by Herodotus
tr by George Rawlinson
Book I -- Clio
Where Did The Etruscans Come From?
Etruscology website | June 2002 | Dieter H. Steinbauer
Posted on 08/07/2005 12:08:13 AM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1458504/posts
Arzawa
The House of David (not the vanished religious sect by that name) | circa 2002 | David R Ross
Posted on 11/26/2004 10:32:25 PM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1289143/posts
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Interesting
Hmmm. I guess the Etruscans invented the cattle boat.
Isn't it amazing how many of these old writings may prove out to be true via archeology or DNA testing or whatever.
This is a truly amazing find.
Fascinating! There is a small town in Italy that I used to visit each year, where the local dialect was derived from the ancient Etruscan language. Those familiar with the Italian language will recognize the differences.
'Upstairs', in Italian is 'sopra' (like soprano). In this town's dialect, the word was 'in gup'.
'Downstairs', in Italian is 'sotto' (like sotto voce). In this town's dialect, the word was 'bal'.
These radically different words stand as testimony to something now rapidly dieing in Italy. With the influx of immigrants, these subtle nuances in local dialects are doomed to disappear. Hopefully, someone is working to preserve them.
Mobility (particularly by sea) is something not generally acknowledged, but buggin' out to a new location is something that happens from time to time, and always has, for humans. Often it happens because of war or other political developments. A Preceramic culture moved from the mainland to Cyprus 8000 years ago -- this was figured out by the architecture and confirmed when the bones in their rubbish piles were examined and found to be introduced species. :')
ANCIENT NECROPOLIS FOUND BENEATH VATICAN
Yahoo News | October 9, 2006
Posted on 10/09/2006 12:03:15 PM EDT by NYer
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1716300/posts
Archaeologists May Have Found What Was Once The Biggest City In Italy
The Economist | 11-4-2004
Posted on 11/07/2004 8:27:22 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1273919/posts
Etruscan Demons, Monsters Unearthed
Discovery news.com | 11-5-2003 | Rossella Lorenzi
Posted on 11/05/2003 11:18:48 AM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1015251/posts
Etruscan Engineering and Agricultural Achievements: The Ancient City of Spina
The Mysterious Etruscans | Last modified on Tue, 17-Aug-2004 15:36:27 GMT | editors
Posted on 08/17/2004 12:05:30 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1193229/posts
Etruscan Holy City Discovered
ANSA | 9-8-2006
Posted on 09/08/2006 10:56:21 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698193/posts
Etruscan Ruins Show How Ancients Lived
IOL | 4-7-2002 | Shasta Darlington
Posted on 04/08/2002 8:05:24 AM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/661712/posts
The Etruscans: Reopening the Case of the Mute Civilization
New York Times | May 27, 2001 | Alan Riding
Posted on 08/04/2004 2:39:04 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1185005/posts
Fabled Etruscan Kingdom Emerging?
Discovery News | 4-22-2004 | Rossella Lorenzi
Posted on 04/22/2004 9:18:57 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1122812/posts
FSU Etruscan expert announces historic discovery at ancient site [ Cetamura ]
FSU News | June 29, 2006 | Barry Ray
Posted on 06/30/2006 2:35:36 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1658560/posts
Ghost Fleet 'Shows Pisa Was An Ancient Venice'
The Telegraph (UK) | 11-22-2003 | Bruce Johnson
Posted on 11/21/2003 9:44:54 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1026849/posts
Hub Of Etruscan Civilization Found
The Times | 9-2-2006 | Martin Penner
Posted on 09/04/2006 6:17:17 PM EDT by blam
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695444/posts
Huge Etruscan Road Brought To Light
Discovery News | 6-16-2004 | Rossella Lorenzi
Posted on 06/17/2004 6:38:42 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1155483/posts
Lost No More: An Etruscan Rebirth
New York Times | 4-15-2003 | John Noble Wilford
Posted on 04/15/2003 1:36:32 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/893760/posts
Man Leads Archaeologists To Frescoed Tomb (Europe's Oldest)
ABC News | 6-16-2006
Posted on 06/16/2006 5:21:35 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1650757/posts
On a mission to explore deepest Lycia Where Greek language has left its mark
Ekathimerini (english edition) | Dec 30 2005 | Christina Kokkinia
Posted on 12/30/2005 2:40:22 PM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1549447/posts
Pre-Roman sanctuary discovered [ Etruscan federation ]
News 24 | Sep 2 2006 | unattributed
Posted on 09/02/2006 3:09:24 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1694485/posts
'Status' drives extinction of languages
Australian Broadcasting Corp Online | Thursday, 21 August 2003 | Bob Beale
Posted on 10/17/2004 3:45:37 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1248057/posts
Why Covet Ancient Chariots. . .
The Times (UK) | 1-5-2006 | Richard Owen
Posted on 01/05/2007 3:05:03 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1763018/posts
Cretan Excavation Sheds New Light On Dark Ages Of Greek History
Kathimerini (English Edition) | 12-7-2004 | Nicholas Paphitis
Posted on 12/07/2004 4:44:53 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1296435/posts
Sabine Chariot Rewrites History
Ansa | 5-12-2006
Posted on 05/12/2006 7:17:08 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1631378/posts
Of course politics and "scholarship" are often strange bedfellows. I watched a program last night about how Mussolini tried to link his Fascist state to the Roman empire by raising and preserving a couple of Caligula's pleasure boats from Lake Nemi. It reminds me of the "science" involved in "global warming."
Yup, interesting. I'd seen that earlier.
I thought the linking of Caligula with Mussolini was ironically appropriate too. Il Duce probably thought Caligula was a stand-up guy.
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