Laran
| Laran | |
|---|---|
Underworld God of War | |
 A statuette of the god Laran, depicted with traditional armour and a helmet. | |
| Symbol | Cuirass, shield, sword, and lance |
| Consort | Turan |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Ares |
| Roman equivalent | Mars |
InEtruscan mythology and religion,Laran(orLarun) is the god ofwar.In art, he was portrayed as anakedyouth wearing ahelmet,acuirassand carrying aspear,shield,orlance.[1]Laran also appears to be an underworld god.[2]Among his attributes is his responsibility to maintain peace. According to some scholars, he also seems to have been the guardian of boundaries as shown by the boundary cippi found inBettonawith the inscriptionstular Larnaandtular larns.[2]Along with eight other Etruscan gods, he can wield lightning.[1]Due to theTabula Capuanawe know that the Laran festival was celebrated on the Ides of May.[2]Laran is theEtruscanequivalent of the GreekAresand the RomanMars.[3]Like many otherEtruscangods, his name is gender neutral.
Previous scholarship thought thatMarís,a mysterious figure(s) was theEtruscangod of war due to the similarity of the name to theRomanwar godMars.[4]However, that has been disproven and Laran has been identified as the Etruscan god of war.[4]
Laran was also shown in the company of another Etruscan god,Lurs.[2][5]The two names were associated with each other since the archaic period.[2][5]
Worship
[edit]Evidence shows that Etruscan deities could be prepared meals by priests for the gods in utilitarian ware.[1]An inscription found implies that meals were prepared in his honour.[1]
Inscriptions have been found showing evidence of cult worship of Laran. One description states that the person offering the vase belonged is that of Lurs, who of which is of Laran.[5]
Due to theTabula Capuanawe know that the festival of Laran was celebrated on the Ides of May.[2]The Tabula Capuana also contains a variant in spelling of Laran’s name: Larun.[2]
Scenes from Etruscan Art
[edit]Laran may be recognized in Etruscan art from his attributes, or is sometimes identified by his name. SinceEtruscan literaturehas not survived, the meaning of the scenes in which he appears can only be interpreted by comparison to Greek and Roman myths, through information about Etruscan myths preserved by Greek and Latin literature, or through conjectural reconstructions based on other Etruscan representations.
- Laran appears with Turms and a youthful, long hairedTiniaon a mirror fromOrvieto,Settecamini.He is shown with a spear and with his hand over a shield, with a sun like motif on it.[6]
- A scene on an Etruscan mirror showsLeinth,Turan,Menrva,Laran, and twoMariśbabies. He stands behindMenrva,holding a spear and wearing a mantle.[4]
- He fights against the giant Celsclan, the son of the earth goddessCelon a mirror fromPopuloniainFlorence.[4]
Inscriptions
[edit]A 5th century BCE vase from a sanctuary near a bridge at San Giovenale states has been identified showing a connection between the two godsLursand Laran:[5]
- mi l[urs l]aruniθla ‘I (am) of Lurs that of Larun (*lurs laruniθa)’[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdThe Etruscan World.Routledge. 2013.ISBN978-0-415-67308-2.
- ^abcdefgKonstantinos I. Soueref; Ariadni Gartziou-Tatti (2019).Gods of Peace and War in the Myths of the Mediterranean People.Ioannina, Greece: Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina - University of Ioannina.ISBN978-960-233-247-4.
- ^Simon, Erika; Thomson de Grummond, Nancy (2006).The Religion of the Etruscans.University of Texas Press. p. 58.ISBN0292782330.
- ^abcdSimon, Erika; Thomson de Grummond, Nancy (2006). The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press.ISBN0292782330.
- ^abcdeVotives, Places and Rituals in Etruscan Religion.BRILL. 2008.ISSN0927-7633.
- ^Nancy T. de Grummond, "Thunder versus Lightning in Etruria," Etruscan Studies, 2016, 19(2), 183-207.
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