Editing Tabula Capuana (section)

==Text example==
(/ indicates line break; some word breaks are uncertain) <ref>Alessandro Morandi ''Epigrafia Italica'' Rome, 1982, p.40</ref><ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. pp. 165 - 173</ref>

===First section (lines 1-7): MARCH<sup>?</sup>===

The first legible section likely is devoted to rituals to be held in March (though the Etruscan word for this month, ''Velcitna'', does not occur in the legible text, presumably because it was in the missing parts).

There are three to five initial lines missing and then 30-50 characters missing in the initial damaged lines shown here.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. pp. 165</ref>

::  ...vacil.../<sup>2</sup>ai savcnes satiriasa.../<sup>3</sup>...[nunθ?]eri θuθcu
::  vacil  śipir  śuri leθamsul 
::: ci tartiria /<sup>4</sup> cim cleva 
::::ac asri halχtei
::  vacil iceu  śuni savlasie...
(~5-8 characters broken off at the end of this line)
:::  /<sup>5</sup>[mul]u rizile picasri 
::::savlasieis
::  vacil lunaśie vaca iχnac 
::::fuli/<sup>6</sup>nuśnes 
::  vacil savcnes itna 
:::  mulu rizile picasri 
::::iane
::  vacil l/<sup>7</sup>eθamsul scuvune 
::::marzac saca'''⋮''' 

Notes: 
In line 1 and throughout, ''vacil'' may mean "libation" (or some similar rite or ceremony), in which case each of the first phrases beginning with it presumably indicate what deity to pour a libation to and perhaps other information.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 162-3</ref> However, Steinbauer (agreeing with Rix) has challenged this assumption and, considering that it seems to be positioned at the beginning of a series of phrases within the context of a step-by-step instruction, proposed that ''vacil'' (with its variants ''vacal'' and ''vacl'') simply means "then."<ref>Steinbauer, D. ''Neues Handbuch des Etruskischen'', St. Katherine, 1999. pp.  86-87</ref>

In line 2, ''savc-nes'' according to van der Meer is an Apolline god, perhaps related in form to ''saucsaθ'' at 3.15 of the [[Liber Linteus]]. The form in the Liber Linteus, preceded as here by the term ''vacl'' "libation," also falls in a section that probably deals with March, though as here there is no explicit mention of a month name. The relevant text from that passage of the Liber Linteus is as follows (3.15-3.17): ''vacl . an . ścanince . saucsaθ . persin / cletram . śrenχve . iχ . ścanince . ciz . vacl / ara'' roughly: "The libation which was poured to ''Sauc- Pers-'' (should be performed) with the decorated litter just as it had been poured (before); perform the libation three times."<ref>L. B. van der Meer Liber linteus zagrabiensis. The Linen Book of Zagreb. A Comment on the Longest Etruscan Text. Louvain/Dudley, MA 2007 pp. 78-82</ref>

Note that the ending ''-nes/-nis'' also occurs in the forms ''fulinuś-nes'' (5-6) and ''caθ-nis'' (9), all referring to deities.<ref> L. B. van der Meer Liber linteus zagrabiensis. The Linen Book of Zagreb. A Comment on the Longest Etruscan Text. Louvain/Dudley, MA 2007 p. 74</ref>

In line 2, ''satiriasa'' (if one word) may be a form of ''Satre'' the Etruscan term for [[Saturn]], which also appears on the [[Piacenza Liver]] among chthonic deities.<ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. p.100</ref> Or it could be in some way connected to or contrasting with ''tartiria'' at the end of line 3.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 163</ref>

In line three, ''<big>ś</big>uri'' is a (not necessarily exclusively) chthonic deity.<ref>L. Bouke van der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. pp. 154-5</ref> The form also appears on the [[Lead Plaque of Magliano]]. ''Leθam-s'' appears on the [[Piacenza Liver]] among chthonic deities, but may have other connections as well. The genitive is used here as usual for indirect object.<ref>Rex E. Wallace "Language, Alphabet, and Linguistic Affiliation" in A Companion To The Etruscans, editors S. Bell and A. A. Carpino, Wiley Blackwell, 2016, pp. 203-224; p. 217</ref>

In lines three and four, ''ci(m)'' means "three," and both ''tartiria'' and ''cleva'' indicate kinds of offerings, yielding a possible partial translation: "To Lethams, three ''tartiria'' (perhaps related to Greek Tartaros, as if '(gifts) for the underworld'?) offerings and three ''cleva'' offerings ..."<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. pp. 165-173</ref> In line 4, ''halχ-'' is likely the name of a kind of vase.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. pp. 165 - 173 p. 16</ref>
 
A verbal form of ''vacil'' may be seen in line 5: ''vac-a'' "make a libation (to)?"; But van der Meer reads ''faca'' here, with unknown meaning. A similar form, ''vac-i'' is in line 28, also preceding a form of 
''fuli/nuśnes''.<ref>Bouke van der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.163</ref> Also in line 5, ''lunaśie'' brings to mind the Roman moon goddess, ''Luna'' (which some equate with ''Cath'', see below).
''pi-cas(ri)'' (5,6) is defined by Pallottino as a verb of offering, to be compared with ''a-cas'' "to do; to offer."  <ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref> ''mulu-'' (4/5, 6) and ''scu-'' (7, 10) seem to be roots meaning "to offer, give" and "finish", respectively; and ''sac-'' means "carry out a sacred act; consecrate."<ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref> In lines 5-6, '' fuli/nuśnes'' may be a form of [[Fufluns]], the Etruscan [[Dionysus]] who is associated with the Etruscan goddess ''Caθa'' who also seems to be mentioned in this text (see below).<ref>Thomson de Grummond, Nancy. Myth and Sacred History, 2006, p. 59</ref><ref>Pallottino, M. (1975). The Etruscans. London: Penguin Books. p 248</ref> A somewhat similar form, ''fuln[folnius]'' can be found on line 29 of the [[Tabula Cortonensis]].<ref>Thomson de Grummond, Nancy. Myth and Sacred History, 2006, p. 59</ref>

Note the frequent repetitions (besides ''vacil''): ''savcnes''(2, 6); ''leθamsul''(3, 6/7, 8...); ''mulu-ri zile picas-ri''(4/5, 6, 18/19 but with...''a-cas-ri'' rather than ''pi-cas-ri''); ''savlasie(is)''(4, 5); ''scu-vune marza(c)''(7) versus ''marza...scuvse''(10)...

The tentative partial translation by van der Meer, building on the work of many others suggests this part of the ritual calendar calls for an indeterminate offering be made to the god Saucne, and that libations be performed for the gods [[Śuri]] and Letham as well as for the gods Saulasie and Fulinusne. Furthermore, that a gifted ''rizile'' be accepted in [the period of?] Iana. And that, the libation to Letham having been properly completed, a ''marza'' be consecrated.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149</ref>

===Second section (starting on line 8): APRIL = ''apirase''===
The second section seems to be devoted to rituals to be held in April.

:: iśveitule ilucve apirase 
:::: leθamsul ilucu cuiesχu perpri
::: cipen apires /<sup>9</sup> racvanies huθ zusle
:: rithnaitultei 
:::: snuza in te hamaiθi 
::::: civeis caθnis fan/<sup>10</sup>iri
:::: marza in te hamaiθi 
::::: ital sacri
:::: utus ecunzai
::::: iti alχu 
::::::scuvse riθnaitu/<sup>11</sup>ltei 
::: ci zusle acun siricima nunθeri
::: eθ iśuma zuslevai apire nunθer/<sup>12</sup>i 
::::: avθleθ aium
:::: vacil ia leθamsul nunθeri
:::: vacil ia riθnaita
::: eθ aθene/<sup>13</sup>ica perpri
::celutule apirase unialθi turza esχaθce
:::ei iśum unialθ ara
::::/<sup>14</sup>epnicei nunθcu ciiei turzai
::::riθnaita eiti ia halχ
::apertule aφes ilucu vacil zuχn/<sup>15</sup>e...
::elφa riθnaitultrais 
:::vanec calus zusleva atu[unis]ne
:::inpa vinaiθ acas
::aφ/<sup>16</sup>es 
:::ci tartiria ci turza riθnaitula 
::::snenaziulastra 
:::vaiuser hivus niθusc riθnaitula
::::hivustra 
:::vaiuser snenaziulas

Notes: Line 8 shows the form ''isvei'' which occurs frequently in the [[Liber Linteus]] where it appears to mean "festival" or "ides". If the form ''iśum'' in line 13 is related, it may mean "festive" or (more likely) "appropriate for a sacred festival" > "sacred." The form ''tul(e)'' (8, 9, 10) in some contexts means "stone", perhaps related to ''tular'' "border" (< "stone marking a border"?),<ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref> itself probably related to (or the origin of?) Umbrian ''tuder'' "boundary"; also the origin of the Umbrian town name Todi.<ref>J. Poultney, The Bronze Tables of Iguvium, 1959</ref> Here it seems to mean "(on or after) the ides (of a particular month)."<ref>van der Meer, L.B. "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 157</ref> According to van der Meer, ''iluc-ve/u'' (twice in line 8) means "feast."<ref>van der Meer, L. B. "Some comment on the Tabula Capuana," in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.166. https://www.academia.edu/21561609/Some_comment_on_the_Tabula_Capuana_in_Studi_Etruschi_77_2014_2015_149_175</ref> Of course, ''iśvei'' and ''tule'' can't both mean "ides", and in any case, the Latin ''ides'' originally fell on the full moon and was sacred to Jupiter, but since the deities recognizable here are underworld (''leθams'' and ''caθ''), ''tul'' may instead refer to the dark phase of the moon, or the new moon (Latin ''kalends''). As van der Meer points out elaborately elsewhere, the contrast between light and dark gods was very important for the Etruscan calendar and for how they divided up the heavens.<ref>L. B. van der Meer Liber linteus zagrabiensis. The Linen Book of Zagreb. A Comment on the Longest Etruscan Text. Louvain/Dudley, MA 2007 pp. 65 ff</ref>

''apirase'' may mean "(in the) month of April."<ref>van der Meer, L. B. "Some comment on the Tabula Capuana," in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.166. https://www.academia.edu/21561609/Some_comment_on_the_Tabula_Capuana_in_Studi_Etruschi_77_2014_2015_149_175</ref> See above for ''Leθam-sul''. Van der Meer translates ''pep-ri'' as "must be held."<ref>Van Der Meer, Bouke. "Some comment on the Tabula Capuana," in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.166. https://www.academia.edu/21561609/Some_comment_on_the_Tabula_Capuana_in_Studi_Etruschi_77_2014_2015_149_175</ref> ''cipen'' seems to be a priestly title (with variants ''cepa(r)'', ''cepe(n)'').<ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.226</ref>

''huθ'' in line 9 means "six",  and ''ci'' in line 11 means "three." ''zusle(-vai)'' (9, 11) means "sacrificial victims" perhaps specifically "piglets."<ref>Van Der Meer, Bouke. "Some comment on the Tabula Capuana," in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.166. https://www.academia.edu/21561609/Some_comment_on_the_Tabula_Capuana_in_Studi_Etruschi_77_2014_2015_149_175</ref><ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref> 

At the end of line 9, ''caθ-nis'' may be a form of [[Catha (mythology)|Catha]], an Etruscan goddess, with an ending ''-nis/-nes'' also seen above in other theonymns: ''savc-nes'' (lines 2 and 6) and ''fuli/nuś-nes'' (lines 5-6). Rarely depicted in art, she is number 8 (among celestial gods) and number 23 on the [[Piacenza Liver]].<ref>Thulin, Carl (1906). Die Götter des Martianus Capella und der Bronzeleber von Piacenza (in German). Alfred Töpelmann. Downloadable Google Books.pages 50 and 65.</ref>

''sacri'' (10) is certainly connected to  words meaning "sacred; victim for sacrifice"—Latin ''sacer'', Umbrian ''sacra'' '''sakra''', Oscan '''sakri-''', and to 'saca' in line 7 above.<ref>A Companion to the Etruscans edited by Sinclair Bell, Alexandra A. Carpino, 2014, Wiley. p219</ref><ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref>

''nunθe-ri'' (11 twice) seems to be a verb "invoke" or "offer", with the necessitive ending ''-ri'' also seen in ''pep-ri''(8), ''picas-ri''(5), ''mulu-ri''(4/5), and perhaps ''śu-ri''(3) and ''sac-ri''(10).<ref>van der Meer, L.B. "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 156, 166</ref> ''eθ'' (11, 12) means "thus."<ref>van der Meer, L.B. "Some comment on the Tabula Capuana," in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p.166. https://www.academia.edu/21561609/Some_comment_on_the_Tabula_Capuana_in_Studi_Etruschi_77_2014_2015_149_175</ref> ''avθ-leθ'' (12) may be related to ''avθa'' "northwind; eagle."<ref>Pallottino, Massimo (1955). The Etruscans. Penguin Books. Translated from the Italian by J. Cremona. pp.225-234</ref>

The word ''acun'' in line 11 may be from Greek ''agon'' (ἀγών) originally "struggle", which came to be used as a term for festivals involving competitive sports; compare Latin ''Agonalia'' festivals in honor of Janus in Rome held in January, March, May and December. Later forms show syncope (loss of word-internal vowels): ''acn-es-em'' on the [[Liber Linteus]] (10.5)) and ''acn-s . priumn-es'' "the ''agon'' of Priam" on the left side of the Volterna urn.<ref>van der Meer, L.B. ''Liber linteus zagrabiensis. The Linen Book of Zagreb. A Comment on the Longest Etruscan Text.'' Louvain/Dudley, MA 2007 pp. 133-134</ref>

The tentative partial translation by van der Meer, building on the work of many others, suggests this part of the ritual calendar calls: for a Cuieschu Feast to be performed for the god Letham on the Feast of April [which is] on the Ides; that Racvanies be the Priest of April; that six piglets be offered for the ritual ; that a ''snuza'', which [is] in the [area of?] Hamai, be declared by Cive [and] by Cathni; and that a statuette of [[Mariś]], which is in the [area of?] Hamai, be consecrated for Ita (? or "for this (festival)"?); that ''utu'' be given with ''ecun'' and with ''scuvsa'' by the ''Ita'' priest in the ritual; that three piglets and an ''acun siricima'' be offered, and further that ''iśuma'' (sanctified items?) be offered with the April piglets in the''avθla'', but (in this case) for Aiu; that a libation be offered to Letham here (="at this point"?); that a libation be made here (as part of?) the ritual; furthermore that the (sacrifice to?) ''aθena'' be held; concerning the love gifts placed in Uni's sanctuary on Earth Day (''celitule'') in April, take away (any that are not) ''iśum'' (sanctified?) in Uni's sanctuary; that three gifts be offered in ''epn-'' (and?) a vase (''halχ'') here in the ''eit'' (of the?) ritual; that a libation (be performed) on the Aperta day for the Festival of Aphe in ''zuchn-''; that an offering be made of ''elfa'' by the people involved in the ritual, and of young Adonis (?) boars for [[Calu]] with ''vana''  in the vineyard; that the people of the cult of the servant girl, and the ''vaiuser'' priest (?) of Hivu and of Nithu, and the people of Hivu, and the ''vaiuser'' of the cult of the servant girl (make an offering of) three ''tartiria'' (and) three love gifts for Aphe during the ritual. 
<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149</ref>

===Third section (lines 18-20): MAY = ''an/mpile''===

:: iśvei tule ilucve anp[ili]e laruns ilucu huχ 
:::: śanti huri alχu esχaθ canulis
:: mulu/<sup>19</sup> rizile zizri
:: inpa [...] an acasri
:: tiniantule leθamsul ilucu perpri
:::: śanti arvus/<sup>20</sup>ta aius nunθeri

''Larun, Canuli, Tinia'', and ''Aiu'' are names of Etruscan gods; ''huχ'' may mean "celebrate", ''alχu'' "given," ''esχaθ'' "bring, place"; ''arvusta'' "(produce of the) field"  (compare Umbrian '''arvam''' "field"; '''arvia''' "fruits of the field, grain").<ref>Poultney, James. The Bronze Tables of Iguvium. Blackwell, Oxford. 1959. p.298</ref>

Again, in van der Meer's tentative translation, in summary, the text calls: for a Festival for [[Laran|Larun]] to be celebrated on the Feast Day of May (namely) on the ides; that Canulis should bring the gifted ''huri'' (wild fruits?) vase; that the gifted ''rizile'' that must be offered (during ...?) must be ''ziz''-ed; that the feast for Lethams must be held on the day of [[Tinia]]; and the vase of the fruits of the field be offered to Aiu.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 168</ref>

===Fourth section (lines 21-24): June = ''acalva''===

::acalve apertule saiuvie leθamsul ilucu perpri
:::śanti ma(c)vilutule
:::::iti/<sup>22</sup>r śver 
:::falal [...] husilitule
::velθur t[....]sc lavtun icni seri. turza esχaθce
::p/<sup>23</sup>acusnausie θanurari turza esχa[θce]
::nis[c l]avtun icni zusle [ś]ilaciiul eses
:::salχe/<sup>24</sup>i calaieic
:::len[..]ai stizaitei
::::z[a]l rapa z[al..........]
::[..]niiac [l]avtun icni seril turza e/<sup>25</sup>sχaθce
:::laχuθ nunθe[ri...]
::::ei[tu] acasri 
:::laχθ turzais . esχa[θce]
::::[ecl..]θ[u] acas θe
:::zusleva/<sup>26</sup> stizaitei acasri
::pacus[naśi]eθu[r] 
:::laθiumia[i zusle]i 
:::[ś]iχaiei t[ar]tiriiai 
:::zanusei pepθiai
::ra/<sup>27</sup>tu ceχiniaitei turza esχaθce eθ[.......]

Notes: in line 23, the deity ''Thanur'' (''Thanr'') is a goddess frequently present at the birth of other Etruscan deities and is part of the circle of [[Turan]].<ref>[[Giuliano Bonfante|Bonfante, Giuliano]]; [[Larissa Bonfante|Bonfante, Larissa]] (2002). ''The Etruscan Language: an Introduction''. Manchester: University of Manchester Press. p.206 ISBN 0-7190-5540-7.</ref><ref>Cristofani, M. (1995) ''Tabula Capuana: Un calendario festivo di età arcaica.'' Firenze. p.70.</ref> But in the [[Lead Plaque of Magliano]], she appears amongst mostly underworld deities, suggesting she is both a goddess of birth and of death.<ref>Maras, D. F. (1998) "La dea Thanr e le cerchie divine in Etruria- nuove acquisizioni" in ''Studi Etrusci'' 64, pp. 173-179.</ref> The form ''laχ(u)-'' "basin" (twice in line 25) may be akin to Latin ''lacus'' "basin, water, lake."<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 170</ref>

Summarizing van der Meer, the text calls: for a feast for Lethams to be prepared in June on the day of Aperta Saiuvia; for the priest of Ita and of Sva to (present) a dish on the fifth day, and a ''falal'' (gift of heaven?) on the day of Husiluta; that ''seri'' gifts will have been brought by Velthur and by the T... family; that gifts will have been brought for Thanur by the Pacusnausia (family?); and that some piglets (will have been brought) by the Nis family for Shilaciia Esa, with ''salcha'' and with ''calaia'', with ''len..a'' and with ''stizaita'', (and) two cups and two...; that the ..nia family will also have brought some ''seri'' gifts; that the offerings be made in a basin (''laχuθ''); that ''eitu'' must be made (as an offering); that (those gifts placed) in the basin be those gifts that were brought; that hereby ''elthu'' be made; (and) that an offering of piglets be made in the ''stiza''; the Pacusnasia family will have brought gifts ritually in the ''cachina'' thus--with ''lathiuma'' and with a piglet, with ''śiχaia'' and with ''t[ar]tiriia'', with ''zanuse'' and with ''pepθia''...<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 168-170</ref>

===Fifth section: probably July (= ''parθum''?)===

Taking up lines 28-30. According to a gloss ''TLE'' 854, the name of July in Etruscan should be ''Traneus'', but the names of the Etruscan months may have varied from place to place, as they did in Greece.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 170</ref>

::parθumi ilucve iśveitule tinunus seθumsal ilucu perpri
:::cipen tartiria vaci / fulinuśn[es.....]
::::/[..]etula 
::natinusnal . ilucu 
:::ituna fulinuśnai . θenunt 
::eθu[...]

Summarizing van der Meer, the text calls: for a festival to be held in July on  the Feast of the Ides for Tinun (and) for Sethums; that a priest pour a libation (over?) ''tartiria'' gifts for Fulinushnai; [here follows illegible material ending with] of...''eta''; that a feast (be prepared) for Natinushna; that Fulinushnai hold this (?); [and the rest is illegible, except for an initial] ''eθu''...<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 170</ref>

===Sixth section: probably August (=''papu''?)===
Taking up lines 31-35. From this point on, the tablet is badly damaged and almost no coherent translations can even be attempted beyond the first line below. Again, gloss ''TLE'' 854 indicates that the name of August in Etruscan should be ''[H]ermius'', but the names of the Etruscan months may have varied from place to place.<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 170</ref>

::macvilutule papui[....]se ilu[cve...]θasχra turza esχa[θ...]e[s] rapa

Tentative translation of first line: On the fifth day of August, on the (day) of the feast (of ?), bring ...''-θasχra'' gifts and cups. [The rest is mostly obscure.]<ref>Bouke Van Der Meer "Some comments on the Tabula Capuana", in: Studi Etruschi 77, 2014 [2015], 149-175. p. 170</ref>