πŒ˜πŒ„πŒ“πŒ”πŒ–

Etruscan

Etymology

Tentatively analysed as *πŒ˜πŒ„πŒ“πŒ” (*Ο†ers, β€œmask”) +β€Ž -πŒ– (-u, agentive suffix), literally β€œmasked person, ie performer”. Compare πŒ†πŒ‰πŒ‚ (zic, β€œdocument”) and πŒ†πŒ‰πŒ‚πŒ– (zicu, β€œwriter”).[1] Alternatively, a loan from Ancient Greek; compare Ο€ΟΟŒΟƒΟ‰Ο€ΞΏΞ½ (prΓ³sōpon, β€œface, mask”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpΚ°er.su/

Noun

πŒ˜πŒ„πŒ“πŒ”πŒ– β€’ (Ο†ersu)[2]

  1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:
    1. a mask
    2. a masked individual, often performing in funerary games
    3. an actor

Usage notes

This word occurs exactly twice. Both are in the w:Tomb of the Augurs where the plain word πŒ˜πŒ„πŒ“πŒ”πŒ– (Ο†ersu) accompanies a masked figure with a long black beard. This makes it difficult to decide what exactly the word is referring to.

Descendants

  • β‡’? Etruscan: *πŒ˜πŒ„πŒ“πŒ”πŒ–πŒπŒ€ (*Ο†ersuna, β€œbelonging or pertaining to Ο†ersu”)[1]
    • β†’? Latin: persōna (β€œmask”) (see there for further descendants)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wallace, Rex E. (2008), A Manual of the Etruscan Language and Inscriptions, Ann Arbor: Beech Stave Press, β†’ISBN, page 129f.
  2. ^ Bonfante, Giuliano; Bonfante, Larissa (2002), The Etruscan Language: An Introduction, 2nd edition, Manchester: Manchester University Press, β†’ISBN, pages 203, 218

Further reading

O. A. Danielsson (1936), E. Sittig, editor, w:Corpus Inscriptionum Etruscarumβ€Ž[1] (in Latin), Volume 2, Section 1, Fascicle 3 (Tit. 5327 - 5606), Leipzig: Barth, β†’OCLC, Β§5328, Β§5335, pages 191, 194

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