HARUSPICY
The bronze Piacenza model liver (ET Pa 4.2, third-second c. BCE) is a three- dimensional, schematic sheep liver inscribed with cells labelled for Etruscan gods and goddesses, many obscure (van der Meer 1987; Bonfante & Bonfante 2002: 172-5; de Grummond 2006c: 44-51).
A more natural model in terracotta from Falerii was not inscribed, but must express haruspical doctrine (van der Meer 1979; 1987: 153-4; Pfiffig 1975: 116). A lead plaque from Magliano (ET AV 4.1, fifth c. BCE), perhaps in the outline of a liver, is covered with a spiral inscription. Its obscure text contains the term aiser, “gods”, and gods’ names (Cavtha, Maris, Thanr, Calu, Suri, Tin and Lur), noting rituals to be performed “80 times”, “every month”, “yearly”, and so on (van der Meer 1987: 169-71; Morandi 1988; Cristofani 1992; Colonna 1994; Capdeville 1996). Some divination may have had an observational basis: dissection of young, apparently healthy, animals can expose disease before it becomes otherwise apparent, and thus afford advance warning of human afflictions (Turfa & Gettys 2009).
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