is the representative of samech, and is not found in Greek inscriptions; Ϻ is shin or san (cf. p. [247]).
The Caere alphabet, on a vase now in the Museo Gregoriano, is also combined with an Etruscan syllabary, consisting of such forms as bi, ba, bu, be, gi, ga, gu, ge, etc.[[2328]]; the alphabet resembles that from Formello, except for the omission of the ϙ, and the
, of the same type, extending as far as ο, was found at Colle near Siena.[[2329]] On another small black jar also found at Caere, and now in the Museo Gregoriano,[[2330]] is incised an Etruscan inscription in two lines, in which also the letters are certainly early Greek rather than Etruscan; these two from Caere must be of the same date as the Regulini-Galassi tomb, about 650-600 B.C.
FIG. 182. ETRUSCAN ALPHABET, FROM A VASE.
The two following, however, are genuine Etruscan abecedaria: one from the foot of a cup found at Bomarzo,[[2331]] on which the alphabet runs (retrograde): α, γ, ε, ϝ, ζ, η, θ, ι, λ , μ, ν, π, Ϻ, ρ, σ, τ, υ, φ, χ, φ, the other in the museum at Grosseto,[[2332]] in which the letters are practically the same, but with the addition of κ and ϙ. In the first named the form ζ for Z should be noted, and in both occur the san and two forms of φ, which in Etruscan generally appears as
. Among other instances of early Etruscan inscriptions are that on the Louvre vase from Caere, with white paintings on red ground (D 151: see p. [294]), which dates from the seventh century; and on objects from the Regulini-Galassi and Del Duce tombs (pp. [295], [300]). They are, however, very rare on the pottery of the next two centuries, with the exception of those incised on the plain pottery, which bear no essential relation to the vase itself.[[2333]] These, as has been noted, are also found on imported Greek wares, one of the best instances being the kylix of Oltos and Euxitheos, at Corneto,[[2334]] on the foot of which is an inscription of thirty-eight letters not divided into words. Occasionally also painted inscriptions are found.[[2335]]