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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 Phoenician 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, hpi, hills) ; they inhabited the remote hilly country of 

 Italy. 



In this allegory Tinia (Jupiter) is represented in a 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 spear in her right ; before him stands a 

 dressed female figure, with arms elevated towards Minerva, 

 and from her mouth the word thar, 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, per lanaim, (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, cal na, (the axe ;) also a tree with a bird, 

 perhaps the eagle, upon it. 



Sir William suggested this explanation of the allegory : 

 ti nia, ci ma, the splendid being ; the great spirit, or Jupiter ; 



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