195 
These mirrors have been found in great numbers in Italy, 
as well in the sepulchral chambers of the Etruscans as in 
other excavations. One side was polished for the mirror, 
the other generally engraved with a representation of some 
mythological allegory. That under consideration represented 
the birth of Minerva, 
The figures and inscriptions are reversed by the engra- 
ver in Dempster’s plate. 
The author suggests that most of the fables of the Greeks 
and Romans are but mutilated versions of the allegorical em- 
blems of a previous people, and that people the Etruscans, 
who, as well as the Celts, were a Pheenician colony. The 
Umbrihave long been considered Celts, and if the Etruscans 
were the same people, they also were Celts. The former, Sir 
William thinks, were called Umbri from their locality, (om, 
- distant, bm, hills) ; they inhabited the remote hilly country of 
Italy. 
In this allegory Tinia (Jupiter) is represented ina sitting 
posture, with the thunderbolt, and the mystic rod in his 
hands; above his head is the infant goddess, with a shield 
on her left arm and a spearin her right ; before him stands a 
dressed female figure, with arms elevated towards Minerva, 
and from her mouth the word rar, cap, (come,) as if inviting 
the new-born deity. Behind this figure is a female nearly 
naked, having but a shawl thrown round her middle, and 
sandaled. In her left hand she holds an axe with a double 
blade, resting on her shoulder ; before her are the words 
SETH LANM, pet lanain, (the hole I cut.) Behind Tinia is 
another female figure nearly naked, with her arms around 
the body of Jupiter, as if supporting him, and behind her the 
word THALNA, tal na, (the axe ;) also a tree with a bird, 
perhaps the eagle, upon it. 
Sir William suggested this explanation of the allegory : 
TI NIA, ei mia, the splendid being ; the great spirit, or Jupiter ; 
T2 
