Etruscan alphabet
The
Etruscan alphabet derives from the
Greek, it is however not clear whether the process of adaptation took place in
Italy or in
Greece/
Asia Minor. The
Etruscan was mostly written from left to right.
It was in any case a Western Greek
alphabet.
In the alphabets of the West, X had the sound value [ks], Psi stood for [k_h]; in Etruscan: X = [s], Psi = [k_j] or [k_X] (Rix 202-209).
Is this supposed to be Psi or Chi?
An additional sign, 8, was present in both
Lydian and Etruscan (Jensen 513) Its origin is disputed; it may be an altered B or H or an ex novo creation (Rix 202). Its sound value was /f/ and it replaced the Etruscan FH.
External link