Mommsen 1853

From Lexicon Leponticum

Theodor Mommsen, "Die nordetruskischen Alphabete auf Inschriften und Münzen", Mittheilungen der Antiquarischen Gesellschaft in Zürich 7 (1853), 197-260.

Author/Editor:	Theodor Mommsen
Type:	palaeographical study, numismatic study
Language:	German
Link to E-Read:	http://books.google.at/books/about/Die_nordetruskischen_Alphabete_auf_Insch.html?id=RoYOAAAAQAAJ&redir_esc=y
Link to Journal:	http://www.antiquarische.ch/
Used for:	8 pages (show list)

Commentary

Section I:
Presentation of inscriptions and coins (tables I, II, III) in North Etruscan alphabet from north of the Apennines (so, not really Etruscan). Some known inscriptions are excluded, for example some from the Milan area, ietupk (MI·6 today read as setupk), with reasons for exclusion given. The author does not comment on the language of the monuments in question because he claims there is still insufficient information on these elements.

Section II:
Observations on the alphabets: eight varieties of North Etruscan alphabets are distinguished:
1) Salassi (and Provenza),
2) Todi,
3) Switzerland,
4) the Tyrol,
5) Styria,
6) Conegliano,
7) Verona,
8) Padova and Este.
Based on the presence or simultaneous presence of o and u, they are further classified:
"Westalphabet" (contains both o and u),
"Transalpinisches Alphabet" (only u),
"Ostalphabet" (only o). M. also addresses the question of the Italic alphabets in general.

Section III:
Devoted to coins and their chronology.