| Abstract | Ovaj se diplomski rad bavi jednim određenim aspektom etruščanske religije, konkretnije fenomenom psihopompa i njihovoj ulozi u putu prema zagrobnom životu. Rad je ponajviše motiviran učestalošću prikazivanja različitih demona i božanstava htoničnog karaktera u etruščanskoj umjetnosti koji se mogu interpretirati kao vodiči duša pokojnika prema zagrobnom svijetu. Tema rada uvodi se prvo povijesno-geografskim okvirom s pomoću kojeg se kontekstualizira etruščanska civilizacija te pregledom povijesti etruskološke misli. U sklopu potonje teme navode se i povijesni, tj. pisani, izvori korisni za proučavanje etruščanske religije i civilizacije općenito na grčkom, latinskom i etruščanskom jeziku. Središnji dio rada bavi se etruščanskim psihopompima i htoničnim božanstvima. Navode se božanstva koja su autohtono etruščanska, kao i božanstva preuzeta iz grčkih ili drugih italskih vjerovanja. Najznačajnija božanstva za ovu temu su krilati demoni Vanth, Haru(n), Tuhulha, božanski par Culśanś i Culśu, vladari etruščanskog podzemlja Aita i Phersipnei kao i druga imenovana ili bezimena božanstva. Zatim slijedi diskusija o prikazima puta pokojnika i pokojnica prema zagrobnom životu. Pokojnici mogu putovati različitim prijevoznim sredstvima i kroz različite pejzaže, a njihovo konačno odredište često je prikazano kao gozba ili dolazak u grad mrtvih. Put ka podzemlju obilježen je liminalnim prostorima: etruščanska grobna umjetnost ukazuje nam tako da putovanje započinje različitim ceremonijama na kojima prisustvuju i pokojnici i njihovi živući članovi obitelji, a ključne točke na putovanju mogu biti označene i vratima. Za prolazak kroz vrata potrebna je pomoć psihopompa koji imaju mogućnost otvaranja i zaključavanja vrata i koji prate pokojnike cijelim putem. Psihopompi su također prikazani kao strašna i naoružana bića, no moguće je da je njihova monstruoznost apotropejskog karaktera te da je njihova uloga osiguravanje sigurnog prelaska puta pokojnika ka podzemlju. Kao dodatni oblik zaštite na putu kroz podzemlje, određene grobne freske ukazuju nam i na različite tipove ceremonija koje moraju biti izvršene. Takve ceremonije mogu uključivati glazbu, sportske igre i vrlo brutalne i krvave rituale pod vodstvom maskirane figure koja se naziva phersu. |
| Abstract (english) | This thesis deals with a particular aspect of ancient Etruscan Religion, namely the phenomenon of demons known as psychopomps as well as their specific roles in the journey to the Underworld. The paper is motivated by frequent depictions of various daemons and chthonic divinities featured in Etruscan art. These daemons are traditionally interpreted as those who guide the spirits of the deceased towards their final destination. The paper is structured so as to first briefly present the history of the Etruscan civilisation, followed by an overview of Etruscology. As part of the historical overview, key sources for the study of Etruscan religion are introduced, i.e. written and epigraphic ancient sources composed in Greek, Latin, and Etruscan. The main part of the paper can be seen as twofold. First, indigenous Etruscan deities, as well as gods and goddesses imported from Greek and other Italic traditions, are introduced. The primary deities can be surmised as the winged daemons Vanth, Charu(n), Tuchulcha, the divine pair Culśanś and Culśu, the Underworld rulers Aita and Phersipnei, as well as other named and unnamed deities. The second part discusses depictions of the journey to the Underworld as they feature prominently in Etruscan funerary art. The deceased are shown traversing different fantastical landscapes on various means of transportation. The final destination is seen as a banquet or as an entry into the City of the Dead. Liminal spaces are a key feature of the journey, i.e., it begins with different ceremonies where the deceased, the living, and occasionally daemons or other spirits take part together. Key points of the journey may be marked by passageways. The assistance of psychopomps is necessary in order for the deceased to unlock and pass through these gates. The psychopomps carry the tools necessary to open, shut, and guard these gates while assisting the deceased on their journey. Psychopomps are often represented as monstrous and hideous beings that are armed with different weapons and other attributes, though their appearance may be purely apotropaic. Their fierce nature can indeed be interpreted as protective, rather than menacing. Also, another form of protection for the journey as featured on Etruscan funerary art is different ceremonies. These funerary rituals can include music, athletic competitions, as well as extremely brutal and bloody games featuring a masked figure known as Phersu. There is no proof that these rituals were in any way codified, and they may have varied from burial to burial. However, it can be assumed that they all had the common goal of mitigating the treacherous journey to the Afterlife and perhaps appeasing the psychopomps who guide the deceased on their journey. |
