Etruscans, Tyrrhenians or Tuscans, 175 
There isa third Etruscan word preserved to us by Dyoni- 
sius of Halicarnasssus. It is the word Tursis, which that 
writer informs us was adopted by the Greeks from the Etrus- 
cans and signifies a large Tower—such as was used by the 
Etruscans and copied from this people by the Greeks. From 
the Etruscaus the Romans changed the first s to r—hence 
Turris. Whether our word Tower, and the French word 
Tour i is derived from the Latin, or rather not derived direct- 
ly from the ancient Tor—which is the probable root of the 
Etruscan Tursis may be doubted. It is proper to observe. 
that the Greek word Tursis has no Greek root, 
Bryant has the following observatlons upon the word Toys 
«Torisan hillor Tower, Many places in'Greece had it in 
their composition ; such as Torone, Torete, Toreate : also 
in Hetruria, Torchonium. Turzon in Africa was a Tower 
of the Sun. It was sometimes expressed Tar, hence Tarcu- 
nia, Taracena, Tarracon in Spain, Tarne (Tar-ain) which gave 
name to a fountain in Lydia; Taron (Tar-on) in Manpritapias 
‘Towers of old were cither Prutaneia, or light houses, and 
were styled Tor-Is : whence came the Turris of the Romans. 
Sometimes these terms were reversed and the Tower was gall- 
ed Astur. Such a one was near some hot streams at no great 
distance from Cicero’s villa. The river too was called Artu- 
ra, There was also a place of this name opposite to the ise 
land Lesbos, undoubtedly denominated from the like cirgum- 
stances in its situation, as may be learned from Fausanlags 
who had seen it.” 
But besides this there are other words haying an evident af- 
finity to words still found in the Latin authors. This will 
perhaps best be shewn by copying here an Etruscan Inscrig- 
tion to be found in the Miscellanea Antiq. Erud. of Spoy. 
LERPIRIOR. SANTIRPIOR, DVIR. FOR. 
FOVFER. DERTIER. DIERIR. VOTIR. FARER. 
VEF, NARATV. VEF, PONI, SIRTIR, 
It is proper to observe that the religion of the ahcient 
nations of Italy seems tu have been the same and to have dif 
W fered 
