Editing Tuchulcha

{{Short description|Etruscan underworld deity}}
[[File:Tomb of orcus II tuchulcha and these.jpg|thumbnail|right|Tuchulcha and These in the [[Tomb of Orcus]] II, [[Tarquinia]].]]
In [[Etruscan mythology]], '''Tuchulcha''' was a [[chthonic]] [[daemon (mythology)|daemon]] (not to be confused with the [[Christianity|Christian]] term  "[[demon]]") with [[pointed ears]] (perhaps those of a donkey), [[hair]] made of [[snake]]s, and a [[beak]] (perhaps that of a [[vulture]]). Tuchulcha lived in the [[underworld]] known as [[Aita (mythology)|Aita]].

Many scholars refer to this deity as male<ref>[[Larissa Bonfante]] and [[Judith Swaddling]]. ''Etruscan Myths''. University of Texas Press, 2006</ref> because of masculine features, such as animalistic facial hair that may resemble a [[beard]]. According to Nancy de Grummond, "This monster is often referred to as male but in fact is very likely female (or neither gender), for she wears a woman’s [[dress]], has decidedly pale pinkish skin (compare the standard brick-red male flesh of These), and even appears to have breasts."<ref>p.230</ref>  She also identifies the diamond-marking of Tuchulcha's serpents as identifying the poisonous adder (''[[Vipera berus|Vipera berus berus]]''). Emeline Hill Richardson and Graeme Barker and Tom Rasmussen also state that Tuchulcha is female. Tuchulcha's garment is known to classical historians as a [[chiton (costume)|chiton]] and is worn by both men and women. As well, the same clothing is worn by another male deity, [[Charun]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The only known depiction of Tuchulcha is a wall painting in the [[Tomb of Orcus II]], in [[Tarquinia]], Italy.  There the deity appears in an episode from the story of ''These'' ([[Greek people|Greek]] [[Theseus]]) visiting the underworld.  These and his friend Peirithous (only his head visible in the surviving portion of the image) are playing a [[board game]], attended by Tuchulcha.<ref>de Grummond, Nancy. ''Etruscan Myth, Sacred History and Legend''. [[Philadelphia]]: [[University of Philadelphia]] [[Museum]], 2006. pp. 229-230)</ref>

In the film, ''[[The Dead Are Alive]]'' (1972, directed by [[Armando Crispino]]), a fresco depicting Tuchulcha is the inspiration for a serial killer's murders occurring somewhere between [[Spoleto]] and [[Cerveteri]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Chthonic beings]]
[[Category:Etruscan deities]]
[[Category:Donkey deities]]
[[Category:Daimons]]
[[Category:Snake deities]]
[[Category:Underworld deities]]
[[Category:Androgynous and hermaphroditic deities]]

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