Editing Laran

{{Short description|Etruscan god of war}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Etruscan
| name = Laran
| image = Bronzetti etrusco-romani, laran (ares-marte) 05.JPG
| caption = A statuette of the god Laran, depicted with traditional armour and a helmet.
| symbol = Cuirass, shield, sword, and lance 
| god_of = Underworld God of War
| consort = [[Turan (mythology)|Turan]]
| Greek_equivalent = [[Ares]]
| Roman_equivalent = [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]
}}

In [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan mythology and religion]], '''Laran''' (or '''Larun''') is the god of [[war]]. In art, he was portrayed as a [[nudity|naked]] youth wearing a [[helmet]], a [[cuirass]] and carrying a [[spear]], [[shield]], or [[lance]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Etruscan World|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|isbn=978-0-415-67308-2}}</ref> Laran also appears to be an underworld god.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|author1=Konstantinos I. Soueref |author2= Ariadni Gartziou-Tatti|title=Gods of Peace and War in the Myths of the Mediterranean People|publisher=Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina - University of Ioannina|year=2019|isbn=978-960-233-247-4|location=Ioannina, Greece}}</ref> Among his attributes is his responsibility to maintain peace. According to some scholars, he also seems to have been the guardian of boundaries as shown by the boundary cippi found in [[Bettona]] with the inscriptions ''tular Larna'' and ''tular larns.''<ref name=":0" /> Along with eight other Etruscan gods, he can wield lightning.<ref name=":1" /> Due to the ''[[Tabula Capuana]]'' we know that the Laran festival was celebrated on the Ides of May.<ref name=":0" /> Laran is the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] equivalent of the Greek [[Ares]] and the Roman [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]].<ref name="EtruscanReligion">{{cite book |last1=Simon|first1=Erika|last2=Thomson de Grummond|first2=Nancy|title=The Religion of the Etruscans|year=2006|publisher=University of Texas Press|page=58|isbn=0292782330}}</ref> Like many other [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] gods, his name is gender neutral.

Previous scholarship thought that [[Maris (mythology)|Marís]], a mysterious figure(s) was the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] god of war due to the similarity of the name to the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] war god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]].<ref name=":2">Simon, Erika; Thomson de Grummond, Nancy (2006). The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press. {{ISBN|0292782330}}.</ref> However, that has been disproven and Laran has been identified as the Etruscan god of war.<ref name=":2" />

Laran was also shown in the company of another Etruscan god, [[Lur (deity)|Lurs]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> The two names were associated with each other since the archaic period.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />

==Worship==
Evidence shows that Etruscan deities could be prepared meals by priests for the gods in utilitarian ware.<ref name=":1" /> An inscription found implies that meals were prepared in his honour.<ref name=":1" />

Inscriptions have been found showing evidence of cult worship of Laran. One description states that the person offering the vase belonged is that of Lurs, who of which is of Laran.<ref name=":3" />

Due to the ''[[Tabula Capuana]]'' we know that the festival of Laran was celebrated on the Ides of May.<ref name=":0" /> The Tabula Capuana also contains a variant in spelling of Laran’s name: Larun.<ref name=":0" />

==Scenes from Etruscan Art==
Laran may be recognized in Etruscan art from his attributes, or is sometimes identified by his name. Since [[Liber Linteus|Etruscan literature]] has not survived, the meaning of the scenes in which he appears can only be interpreted by comparison to Greek and Roman myths, through information about Etruscan myths preserved by Greek and Latin literature, or through conjectural reconstructions based on other Etruscan representations.

* Laran appears with Turms and a youthful, long haired [[Tinia]] on a mirror from [[Orvieto]], [[Settecamini]]. He is shown with a spear and with his hand over a shield, with a sun like motif on it.<ref>Nancy T. de Grummond, "Thunder versus Lightning in Etruria," Etruscan Studies, 2016, 19(2), 183-207.</ref> 
* A scene on an Etruscan mirror shows [[Leinth]], [[Turan (mythology)|Turan]], [[Menrva]], Laran, and two [[Maris (mythology)|Mariś]] babies. He stands behind [[Menrva]], holding a spear and wearing a mantle.<ref name=":2" /> 
* He fights against the giant Celsclan, the son of the earth goddess [[Cel (goddess)|Cel]] on a mirror from [[Populonia]] in [[Florence]].<ref name=":2" />

==Inscriptions==
A 5th century BCE vase from a sanctuary near a bridge at San Giovenale states has been identified showing a connection between the two gods [[Lur (deity)|Lurs]] and Laran:<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Votives, Places and Rituals in Etruscan Religion|publisher=BRILL|year=2008|issn=0927-7633}}</ref>

* mi l[urs l]aruniθla  ‘I (am) of Lurs that of Larun (*lurs laruniθa)’<ref name=":3" />

==See also==
* [[Turan (mythology)|Turan]]
* [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]
* [[Ares]]
* [[Etruscan mythology]]
*[[Etruscan religion|Etruscan Religion]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
<!--Darkover novels "laran"  psychic ability such as telepathy, telekinesis, clairvoyance etc.-->

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Etruscan gods]]
[[Category:Etruscan religion]]
[[Category:War gods]]
[[Category:Martian deities]]