- Jean Gran-Aymerich –
Two very remarkable inscriptions were discovered in the western quarters of the old
city, at the site of Collège Vieux Port. The shorter inscription was deeply engraved on
the external base of an impasto lid-bowl, dated to the second half of the sixth century; it
is two signs that read with no diffi culty “va,” probably an abbreviation of the name of
the owner.^18 The mineral inclusions in the clay permit the identifi cation of the origin of
this bowl as Caere. The second inscription was doubtless incised after fi ring at Marseille
itself. In truth, this text was engraved upon the upper, and thus most visible, portion of a
wine amphora made in Marseille (the ware and inclusions are perfectly identifi able) at the
end of the sixth century or the beginning of the fi fth century. The truncated inscription
is written right to left, of which three letters are visible, ...ve, preceded by a letter of
which all that remains are two oblique strokes (Fig. 17.4). The object was discovered
in the context of a singular edifi ce, identifi ed by the excavator as a “dining room”. This
important document gives evidence for the presence of a lettered Etruscan and was in all
probability offered as a diplomatic gift at a ceremonial banquet or meeting in a high level
architectural complex.^19
The littoral of Provence, Languedoc, and CataloniaBefore the recent discoveries in Marseille, this north-western littoral fringe of the
Mediterranean had already revealed the fi rst Etruscan epigraphic documents in southern
France, of which many are of singular importance. At the oppidum of Saint-Blaise, for
example, certain amphorae bear inscriptions and marks of a commercial character
(Fig. 17.5).^20 A graffi to inscribed on the base of an Attic cup of the fi fth century, long
considered to be illegible, is now understood by Giovanni Colonna to be a dedication in
Greek letters but Etruscan language to the Etruscan divinity Uni.^21 The harbor of Lattes
has furnished inscribed, everyday pottery, of which the bowls in bucchero and impasto
have provided graffi ti corresponding to feminine names.^22 The oppidum of Ensérune is
well known for its Iberian inscriptions, of which one was reinterpreted as a Celtic name
written with Etruscan letters.^23 The oppidum of Pech-Maho (Sigean) brought forth a
truly fi rst-rate document, a veritable text, apparently a letter of commercial character,
inscribed upon a sheet of lead, of which the verso is an even older Greek text.^24 This
document, dating from the beginning of the fi fth century, furnishes the oldest epigraphic
reference to Marseille-Massalia, Matalia in Etruscan. Given the presence of the word
zik (letter, writing, book) and of the word eitva, comparable to the Oscan eituva (money,
Figure 17.5 Coastal oppidum of Saint-Blaise, Etruscan inscription of commercial character incised on an
Etruscan amphora, sixth century. (Gran-Aymerich 2006c).