Tuchulcha

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Tuchulcha (Etr. Tuχulχa) is in Etruscan mythology a demon of the underworld, mostly male. In the tradition, however, the term is also used as a generic term, which is accompanied by fluctuations in the sexuality of the demon in the representation; here the use is similar to that of the also Etruscan underworld demon Charun . A representation of the demon can be found in the Tomba dell'Orco in Tarquinia as well as on a Faliski stamnos (4th century BC).

presentation

Red-figure amphora from Vulci . The Tuchulcha is on the right, with two serpents wound around its arms.

The classic representation shows the demon with wild hair from which snakes curl their way out; the arms are also wrapped in snakes. The demon has other animal features such as pointed ears and a nose reminiscent of a vulture's beak , but can also appear "almost monkey-snouted (prognath) [.] Like Charun". The demon appears winged and wingless. As already indicated, the demon's sex can vary; As a result, the color design of the demon can also change: the female demon is usually white, the male one is colored dark or black.

Others

During two military meetings with the Romans - during the Roman attack on Fidenae in 426 BC. BC as well as in the battle of the Romans with the Tarquiniern 356 BC. BC - a group of Etruscan priests from each city is said to have faced the Roman troops disguised as tuchulchas . The priests wore (artificial) snakes in their hair and masks and waved dummy snakes and torches. The appearance of the disguised priests caused an uproar and brief panic in the Roman army at both meetings , but the commander-in-chief and officers were able to contain it and even use it to motivate the Romans again; the Etruscans' ruse did not work.

“Inde terror maximus fuit quod sacerdotes eorum facibus ardentibus anguibusque praelatis incessu furiali militem Romanum insueta turbaverunt specie. Et tum quidem velut lymphati et attoniti munimentis suis trepido agmine inciderunt; deinde, ubi consul legatique ac tribuni puerorum ritu vana miracula paventes inridebant increpabantque, vertit animos repente pudor et in ea ipsa quae fugerant velut caeci ruebant. Discusso itaque vano apparatu hostium, cum in ipsos armatos se intulissent, averterunt totam aciem castrisque etiam eo die potiti praeda ingenti parta victores reverterunt, militaribus iocis cum apparatum hostium tum suum increpantes pavorem. "
“Then the horror was greatest because their [the Etruscans] priests with burning torches and with snakes, by wildly pacing [and the unfamiliar sight that goes with it] confused the Roman soldiers [= the Roman army]. And thereupon [the army] rushed to their own fortifications like confused and dismayed in excited marching order; afterwards, as soon as the consul and legates like tribune laughed at and acted on those who feared vain miracles in the manner of boys, shame suddenly turns to courage, and they pounced on even what they had fled like blind people. And so they got between the armed men themselves, after the vain pomp of the enemy had been smashed, drove out the whole line of battle, even took the camp on the same day, made rich booty and came back victorious, both with soldiery jokes the splendor of the enemy and especially the [former] fear. "

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ambros Josef Pfiffig : The Etruscan religion. Sacred places. Gods - Cults - Rituals. Wiesbaden 1998, ISBN 3-928127-54-3 , p. 334.
  2. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 334.
  3. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 335.
  4. ↑ Snakes are a common attribute of various deities and demons in Etruscan mythological art. Deities adopted from the Greek culture were also assigned additional attributes of “completely ungreek conception” (Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 176), such as a “Persephone [in the Tomba dell'Orco], from whose blond hair two snakes poke up “(Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 176), shows.
  5. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 334.
  6. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. Pp. 334-335.
  7. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. P. 336 .: "[...] the bare skin areas of the female demon on the left [are] white [...] the common coloristic differentiation between male and female."
  8. ↑ Smart: The Etruscan Religion. Pp. 326-327.
  9. ↑ Liv. VII, 17, 3-5.

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