A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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328 Italy and her People
of the same sort with the wool on one or both sides.
The
mines are not now worked so diligently, because they are not
equally profitable with those of Transalpine Gaul and Iberia.
II.
The Etruscans
The people.
Polybius ii.
17-
(Phlegraean,
"Volcanic,"
from the fact
that the soil
contained
much
volcanic
matter.)
Their power.
Diodorus v.
40.
(To the time
of Diodorus;
P- 73 )
These plains (of the Po) were anciently inhabited by the
Their learning.
Etruscans, who at the same time occupied the Phlegraean
plains round Capua and Nola; the two places last mentioned
have been most celebrated, because they were
visited by many people, and so became known.
In speaking
then of the Etruscan empire, we should not refer to the
district occupied by the Etruscans, at the present time,
but to these northern plains, and to what they did when
they lived there.
In ancient times they were valiant, and enjoyed a large
country, and built many famous cities. With their great
navy they were masters of the sea which washes the west
coast of Italy, and which they called Tyrrhenian (or
Tuscan), after their own name.
As one of their military
equipments they had invented a most useful instrument
of war,—the trumpet, which from them is called Tyrrhena
To the generals of their army they gave as badges of honor
an ivory throne and a purple robe. They invented porticoes
for their houses, to avoid the trouble and noise of a
crowd of servants, and other hangers-on. Introducing
these customs into their commonwealth, the Romans
greatly improved them.
The Etruscans gave themselves up to learning, especially
to the study of nature. In these researches they were
especially anxious to discover the meaning of thunder and
lightning. To this day, therefore, they are admired by
princes the world over, who employ their soothsayers in
interpreting the supernatural effects of thunder.