Home > Etruscan mythology

Caveat: Since no written Etruscan literary texts have survived, two short incomplete texts, and only a modest number of 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. Undaunted, modern Europeans looking for alternative cultural roots, embrace the dimly-perceived Etruscans, as everything that the Romans were not: not warlike, not patriarchal, not authoritarian. Consequently any list of Etruscan deities, with pronouncements concerning their character, must be taken in a spirit of caution.

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.

Etruscan mythological figures

• Aita
• Alpan
• Ani
• Aplu
• Artume
• Atunis
• Cautha
• Charontes
• CharunIn Etruscan mythology, Charun was a demon who tortured dead souls in the Underworld, as well as the guardian of the entrance to the underworld. He is the Etruscan equivalent of Charon in Greek mythology. He was depicted as having a vulture's nose, pointed
• CulsuIn Etruscan mythology, Culsu was a female demon in the underworld. Her attributes included a torch and scissors. She was associated with gateways. Etruscan demons.
• EvanIn Etruscan mythology, Evan was the god of personal immortality. He was one of the Lasas. Evan is also in contemporary use as a male name, the Welsh form of "John" and closely related to "Ivan," "Ian," and "Juan. Etruscan gods Health gods.
• FebruusIn Etruscan mythology, Februus was the god of the dead and purification. The month of February was named after him. He may have become Febris, Roman god of malaria. Death gods Etruscan gods.
• FeroniaIn Roman mythology, Feronia was a fertility goddess who was revered in order to secure a good harvest. Many versions of her cult have been supposed, and it seems quite probable that it was an Etruscan-derived cult. She was also the goddess of travel, fire
• FuflunsIn Etruscan mythology, Fufluns (or Puphluns was a god of plant life, happiness and health and growth in all things. He is the son of Semia. Etruscan gods Health gods Nature gods.
• HortaIn Etruscan mythology, Horta is the goddess of agriculture. Agricultural goddesses Etruscan goddesses.
• LaranIn Etruscan mythology, Laran was the god of war. In art, he was portrayed as a naked young man with a helmet and a spear. Etruscan gods War gods.
• Lasa
• Losna
• Mania
• Mantus
• Menrva
• Nethuns
• Nortia
• Selvans
• Semia
• Sethlans
• Tages
• Tarchon
• Thalna
• Thesan
• Tinia
• Tuchulcha
• Turan (goddess)
• Turms
• Tyrrhenus
• Uni
• Vanth
• Veive
• Voltumna