Lur (deity)

Bronze Statuette of Vel Matanas with an inscription translating to "sacred gift for Lur"

Lur (Lurs, Luridus, Lurmitla) is an Etruscan underworld deity with little known history. Lur does not have many depictions but the ones that have been found show the deity as a male. He has been noted to be associated with a prophetic nature, while also bearing oracular and martial characteristics.[1] He has been linked to another deity by the name of Laran, which, it has been suggested, is where Lur derives his name from. The context of the name has been associated with darkness and the underworld. A fifth century vase found near a sanctuary in San Giovenale bears an inscription that translates: "I am Lurs, that of Laran."[2] Another inscription has been found with the spelling lartla, noting relations to a Lar, which gives a label to Lur that describes features of protection.[3] The name may be related to Latin luridus "pale".[4]

  1. ^ De Grummond, Nancy Thomas "The cult of Lur : prophecy and human sacrifice?" in Mediterranea : quaderni annuali dell'Istituto di studi sulle civiltà italiche e del Mediterraneo antico del Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, già Quaderni di archeologia etrusco-italica : XI, 2014, pp. 153-162
  2. ^ Gleba & Becker 2008, pp. 217–227.
  3. ^ Maras 2009.
  4. ^ L. B. van der Meer Liber linteus zagrabiensis. The Linen Book of Zagreb. A Comment on the Longest Etruscan Text. Louvain/Dudley, MA 2007 pp.87-92