The Bronze Liver of Piacenza: Analysis of a Polytheistic Structure (Dutch Monographs of Ancient History and Archaeology, Vol 2) (Dutch Monographs on Ancient History and Archaeology)

This book deals with the Iecur Placentinum, the bronze model of a sheep’s liver, bearing 42 Etruscan inscriptions. The Piacenza Liver is a highly interesting document of the utmost importance for the understanding of Etruscan religion. It will appear that the network with the inscribed names of divinities on both sides of the Liver depicts a microcosmos reflecting the macrocosmos, the Etruscan division of heaven. THE BRONZE LIVER OF PIACENZA: ANALYSIS OF A POLYTHEISTIC STRUCTURE 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 11 1 lntroduction 12 2 The history of tlדe discovery 14 3 Description 18 4 The regions and the inscriptions 22 5 Date and provenance 26 6 The current state of affairs 28 7 The sixteen regions and Martianus Capella 31 8 The origin of the sixteen-partite heaven 36 9 The inscriptions 39 9.1 Tin 39 9.2 Neth 46 9.3 Uni 49 9.4 Mae 50 9.5 Tecvm 52 9.6 Lvsa 55 9.7 Catha 57 9.8 Fufluns 62 9.9 Selva 67 9.10 Letham 75 9 .11 Tluscv 79 9.12 Cel 82 9.13 Cvl 84 9.14 Alp 91 9. 15 Vetis 97 9.16 Cilens 99 9.17 Thufltha 105 9.18 Tul 116 9.19 Lasa 118 9.20 Tvath 121 9.21 Maris 123 9.22 Lar 129 9.23 Hercle 131 9.24 Velch 133 9.25 Satre 135 9.26 Metlvmth 138 9.27 Tiv 142 9.28 Usil 145 10 The gods and their context 150 11 Chronological aspects 154 12 Pars familiaris and pars hostilis 156 13 Chaldean influences? 162 14 The origin of Etruscan liver consulting 166 Summary 174 General appendices 178 Notes 188 List of abbreviations (Bibliography) 198 List of Illustrations 209