63 
T remark on the words singly. 
Mi.—I agree with Donaldson, = eos, or in old inscriptions ep = exe, 
Niké.—I find in an epigram of Simonides that Md was the name 
of a woman in his day. It applies particularly happily in this case, as 
in the same tomb were found the gold ornaments of a female, supposed 
to be a warrior queen. 
Thuma requires no remark, except that strong perfumes were found 
in these Etrurian tombs. 
Mi.—This mi, and those following, I look upon as mo, or Lat. 
mihi, contracted mz. Donaldson acknowledges a difference of quantity 
from the first mz. 
Mathu.—Doric form of pcOv. 
Maram seems doubtful. Ihave supposed it to mean pnpor, or thigh. 
Insia is conjectural. I supposed it might mean Aroow, J entreat ; 
but Aveex, for sacrifice or expiation, seems as probable. 
Ithi porenat.—Go provide. Neither o nor w occurs in these inscrip- 
tions: its place is supplied by v generally; occasionally by a. The 
form of porenai seems poetic, like opyvac in Homer for oper. It may 
be read purenat for pureuein, or burn; but a word applicable to all the 
nouns seems preferable. 
Etera (o-dw understood), otherwise. The e possibly of the inscrip- 
tion doubled by mistake. 
Isie of the inscription I suppose to be es, or evo, its Doric form. 
Epana.—An old form of the word, not now occurring as an ad- 
jective ; oxavios and zevys, other forms; but yaa occurs, though 
rare. 
Nethu.—An old word for water. It were hard to say how it became 
obsolete in Greek. It remains in vycoa, vytta, a duck (or water-fowl), 
and several other words, and Donaldson says is the origin of the water- 
god Neptunus; in older form Methuns. This root remains in German, 
nass (wet), and Dutch and Flemish nat (meaning either water or wet). 
Naston.—Barley-cake. Perhaps it might be read in the genitive 
vaortov, Tt or odvyov understood. 
Aleipha is rather an Ionic than a Doric or Epic form; the 4 merely 
marks a difference of pronunciation. See Thiersch, Gr. Grammar, p. 45, 
that the rough breathing has been dropped from many Greek words in 
later times. 
To conclude—I do not pretend to defend every word of the above 
interpretation; it must be remembered that bad spelling is not uncommon 
in such early inscriptions, and allowances made accordingly. It is suf- 
ficient for me if on the whole it presents a probable meaning, and if it 
should furnish the slightest clue to other inscriptions I shall be amply 
rewarded for any little pains which this one may have cost me. 
Donaldson furnished me with the three words,—the first mz, mathu, 
and nethu. The lines seem to be verse; but I have not attempted here 
to scan them. I would give Donaldson’s explanation, if it did not re- 
quire to be explained. 
