The Ancient Civilization of Etruria is one which is very mysterious. No theory is universally accepted as to the origins of Etruscan civilization, however there are many to choose from (Bloch, 51). One theory accepted by some is that of a famine which struck Lydia and forced some of the inhabitants to leave (Bloch, 51). Those who left built ships and sailed to the land of Umbria, and changed there names to honour the King who had led them to this land (Bloch, 52). These refugees, now called themselves Tyrrhenians which was translated to Tyrrhenoi by the Greeks (Bloch, 52). In this theory the Etruscans are thougt to have come from Lydia in Asia Minor (Bloch, 52). Some do not believe this theory to be true, due to the differences in language between the Lydians and the Etruscans, the difference in laws and the Gods they worshipped, and also physical traits (Bloch, 53). Another debate as to their origins is that they, "came from the north and were indo-european invaders" (Bloch, 53). However, this "does not stand up to the evidence of the facts" (Bloch, 53). The capital of anicient Etruria was Rome, and there were twelve tribes which greatly relied on this stronghold (Bloch, 116). With the rise of the Roman Empire in the middle of the sixth century, the twelve tribes grew to fifteen and it was necessary to for the Etruscan League (Bloch, 116). The Etruscans had a religion in which they worshipped skygods, used specialized priests to interpret signs from the gods, and had many burial practices.
             The Etruscans believed in a revealed religion which was preserved in anicent books (Bloch, 58). In the Etruscan religion there is a myth in which a miraculous being, "emerged from the bowels of the earth" (Bloch, 142). In this legend, a farmer dug a furrow and saw a spirit emerge with the face of a child and the grey hair and wisdom of an old man, then all the townspeople hurried to where the farmer was to observe Tages, the grandson ...