Thread by @DocCrom

Oh, sod it... I can't stay non-ancient all day, so for an #EpigraphyTuesday thread here's a very quick little offering.

So here's a bronze Etruscan helmet that was dedicated in the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia.

Image: British Museum (1823,0610.1)

The piece is thought to be a trophy dedicated at the sanctuary in the aftermath of the Battle of Cumae in 474 BC, where the Syracusans under Hieron defeated the Etruscans.

The inscription in Syracusan Greek would translate as:

"Hieron, son of Deinomenes, and the Syracusans, [dedicated] to Zeus Etruscan [spoils] from Cumae."

Pindar (Pythian Odes 1.72-75) refers to the Battle of Cumae (Cyme):

λίσσομαι νεῦσον, Κρονίων, ἥμερον
ὄφρα κατ᾿ οἶκον ὁ Φοίνιξ ὁ Τυρσα-
νῶν τ᾿ ἀλαλατὸς ἔχη, ναυσίστονον
ὕβριν ἰδὼν τὰν πρὸ Κύμας,...

οἷα Συρακοσίων ἀρχῷ δαμασθέντες πάθον,
ὠκυπόρων ἀπὸ ναῶν ὅ σφιν ἐν πόν-
τῳ βάλεθ᾿ ἁλικίαν,
Ἑλλάδ᾿ ἐξέλκων βαρείας δουλίας.

'I beg you, son of Cronus, grant that the
Phoenician and Etruscan war cry remains quiet
At home, having seen their arrogance lay low...

'Their fleet before Cyme.

Such things they suffered, overcome by the leader
Of the Syracusans, who strew their young men
From the swift ships into the deep,
Thus delivering Greece from grim slavery.'

That's it for the #EpigraphyTuesday thread... I apologise for not tagging the usual suspects at the head, so I'll redress that here.

Blame my sleep-deprived brain! Toodles!