Bronze Divination Liver from Piacenza, Italy (500 BCE)

For translation methodology see: How to Translate Alphabetic Akkadian Texts

Piacenza Liver on display in the Palazzo Farnese Museum in Piacenza
This bronze representation of a sheep liver as now displayed at Musei di Palazzo Farnese | Piacenza (Palazzo Farnese Museum in Piacenza).  The bumps are top left to right:  hepatic lymph nodes, gall bladder, and caudate lobe which can easily be lifted up vertical.
Online at: https://www.palazzofarnese.piacenza.it/it/news/notizie/i-tesori-archeologici-di-piacenza-e-delle-sue-valli
Piancenza Italy Map showing it in the middle of the Po Valley

Piancenza is in the middle of the Po valley north of the normal Etruscan homeland.

Youtube Video from Musei di Palazzo Farnese (In Italian)

Liver from Po River Valley in Italy 

(Jan. 29, 2023) The left side presents the divination results by planet while the right side provides the analysis.  Celtic texts show the incorporation of Indo-European sky and planetary powers into the Druid Ancient Pagan Paradigm.

The Po river valley came under the control of a Celtic tribe known  by the Romans as the "Insubres" around 600 BCE.  They sacked Rome in 390 BCE. Yet they were conquered by Rome in the battle of Clastidium (modern Casteggio) in 222 BCE but gained a brief period of freedom when Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Italy in the Second Punic War (218–201 bc). The Insubres were finally subdued by Rome in 196 BCE and gradually lost their identity in the rise of municipal communities. They were granted Latin rights in 89 BCE and full Roman citizenship 40 years later.

The bronze Liver of Piacenza was found on September 26, 1877 by a farmer plowing a field. It was found at a depth of about 25 cm not far from the small village of Settima of Ciavernasco just south of Piacenza. This site is located approximately a kilometre from the right bank of the Trebbia river. The bronze liver was eventually bought by Count Francesco Caracciolo, who subsequently donated it to the Civic Museum of the Piacenza on the first of August 1894. The liver is a life sized sheep’s liver measuring 126 × 76 × 60 mm (5 × 3 × 2.4 inches) and weighing 635 grams. As far as I know the field has not been excavated or surveyed with geophysical equipment despite the significance of this find.

In Indo-European cultures the liver was the source of the emotions. (Riva and all, 2011). In the body it is attached to the diaphragm which is the muscle responsible for breathing. This links the liver to breath (wind, spirit) which was the causal fluid for the motion powers. The liver is also the source of bile which was thought to be the way these motion powers affected the physical body. The other source of motion in the universe besides inner conscious emotions was the motions of the heavenly bodies. Therefore, the ancients reasoned some connection must exist between the two motion sources and that connection was the liver. The earliest Greek playwrights, the tragedians (400’s BCE), referred to the liver as the seat of emotions (Aeschylus: Agamemnon, 432; Sophocles: Aix, 938).

Fire was the elemental correspondence to emotion and passion. This association is why the Greek Titan of fire, Prometheus, had his liver continually eaten by a vulture as punishment for bringing fire (emotional life) to humans. According to the Ancient Pagan Paradigm eagle-vultures were the trimmers of the life-growth network so this Greek myth combines many ancient components.

The Greek word for liver is “hepar” from which English gets the word “hepatitis” (liver disease) and hepatoscopy meaning “liver divination.” The Akkadian word for liver is the similar “Ḫarû” from which English gets “haruspicy” (liver divination) and horoscope (night sky divination).

This liver text refers to a drought. Surviving Roman records which refer to this time period are sparce but an analysis of those which refer to a grain shortage by Northwood (2006) reveals a pattern of frequent shortages during the 400’s then no problems until the second Punic war (218 to 201 BCE). Grain shortages can be caused by drought, social instability (war), or both.

Piacenza Liver Showing its Main Divination Sections

Piacenza Liver Showing its Main Divination Sections

The left side presents the divination results by planet while the right side provides the analysis. 

  1. Purple - State of Life Network Connections by Planet
  2. Red - State of Life Power Affects on Life-Network by Planet
  3. Blue - State of Earth Life Manifestation by Cardinal Direction
  4. Black - State of Under-dome Spirit Beings by Cardinal Directions
  5. Yellow - Conclusion about Under-dome Spirit Affects: They are Causing Neglect
  6. White - Final Conclusion About Earth Manifestations: Drought is due to Network Confusion Sown by Eagle-Vultures. Everything Else is Good.

Photo from: https://www.artapartofculture.net/2022/06/02/palazzo-farnese-piacenza/ (Numbers added by Olmsted)

Piacenze Liver as it was originally displayed at the Palazzo Farnese Museum in Piacenza

Old Musei di Palazzo Farnese Display

This was how it was displayed earlier at the Palazzo Farnese Museum in Piacenza

Piacenza Liver Held in Hand

Piacenza Liver Held in Hand

This gives a good idea of its size. From the Youtube video by Musei di Palazzo Farnese.
Piancenza liver photo by Istituto per i beni artistici culturali e naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna

Piacenza Liver

From: Istituto per i beni artistici culturali e naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna
Online at: https://desimonewayland.tumblr.com/post/187449537458/the-liver-of-piacenza-dating-to-around-100-bc-was
Piancenza liver photo by Istituto per i beni artistici culturali e naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna

Piacenza Liver

From: Istituto per i beni artistici culturali e naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna
Online at: https://desimonewayland.tumblr.com/post/187449537458/the-liver-of-piacenza-dating-to-around-100-bc-was
Left Side of Piancenza Liver

Left Side of Piacenza Liver

from Youtube video by Musei di Palazzo Farnese.
Piacenza Liver with Letters Inked Over (some incorrectly)

WARNING!  Inked Letters

Pictures of the Piacenza Liver are floating around on the internet and in various scholarly publications which have had their letters written over in white ink in an attempt at clarity. Some of these corrections are wrong so it cannot be trusted as a source. Unfortunately, this image seems to have been used by van der Meer (1987). Also beware of the replicas floating around.
Liver of Sheep

Liver of Sheep

1 left lobe, 2 right lobe, 3 caudate lobe, 4 quadrate lobe, 5 hepatic artery and portal vein, 6 hepatic lymph nodes, 7 gall bladder
from Wikimedia Commons at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leber_Schaf.jpg

Piacenza Liver Top View

The long hill is the gall bladder while the two other ones are opposite ends of the caudate lobe.
https://www.artapartofculture.net/2022/06/02/palazzo-farnese-piacenza/

Piacenza Liver Oblique View

https://www.visitemilia.com/en/organize-your-stay/musei-civici-di-palazzo-farnese

References

Autori vari, (1985) The land of the Etruscan, Scala, Firenze – 1985
Copeland, M. (2006) Piacenza Liver – Divination via the Etruscan gods. Online at: https://www.academia.edu/35906687/Piacenza_Liver_Divination_via_the_Etruscan_gods
Nijboar, A.J. (2008) Italy and the Levant during the late Bronze and Iron Ages (1200-750/700 BCE). Online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288952305_Italy_and_the_levant_during_the_late_bronze_and_iron_age_1200-750700_B_C
Riva, M., Riva, E., Spicci, M., Strazzabosco, M., Giovannini, M., Cesana1, G. (2011) “The city of Hepar’’: Rituals, gastronomy, and politics at the origins of the modern names for the liver. Journal of Hepatology vol. 55, 1132–1136. Online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168827811004946
Stevens, Natalie (2009) A New Reconstruction of the Etruscan Heavens. American Journal of Archaeology Vol 113.2. Online at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20627565?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents  Van der Meer (1987) The Bronze Liver of Piancenza: Analysis of a Polytheistic Structure. Amsterdam: J.C. Gieben 

Because this translation is based upon better pictures it replaces my earlier translation: Olmsted, D.D. (January 1, 2021) Translation of Bronze Etruscan Piacenza Liver Reveals Liver Divination Practices (400 BCE). Humanities Commons Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/973y-7767

Piacenza Liver Divination Results: State of Network Connections by Planet (Purple Section)

(Jan 29, 2023) This section is blaming the magical motion powers for a drought. It reads:

  1. The Opener of the life boundary (Thu) does not affect the emanations (Planet Mercury = Selene)
  2. Nourishments are not being opened by Ayu's eagle-vultures  (Planet Venus = Ayu)
  3. Motion-magic is redirecting none of the connections  (Planet Mars = Thu/Athena)
  4. And Yahu (E') is revealing the nourishments.   (Planet Jove, later Jupiter = Yahu. In old Latin planet was Jove (pronounced Yove, German spelling Jowe). This is Yawe or Yahweh or Yahu.  The Romans deliberately changed the name of this deity suppress this ancient Druid and later Jewish connection.  This suppression has continued into modern times.
  5. (letters unreadable)  (Planet Saturn)
  6. Moon-Powers are dispersed and [letters too uncertain to read]  (Full Moon = Su)

Left Outer Section Text 1

Translation in Akkadian (Celt North 1.1.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Pu ETu Du Zu Ya  (verb at end)

In English

  1. The Opener of the life boundary (Thu) does not affect emanations

Left Outer Section Text 2

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.1.2)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Bu  Pu  Ya  AYu  Ru  (verb at end)

In English

  1. Nourishments are not opening Ayu's eagle-vultures

Left Outer Section 3

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.1.3)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Tu  IWu  DaBbu  E  

In English

  1. Motion-magic is redirecting the none of the connections

Left Outer Section 4

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.1.4)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. U  E' u  Nu  Bu

In English

  1. And Yahu (E') is revealing the nourishments

Left Outer Section 5

Letters too destroyed to read

Left Outer Section 6

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.1.6)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Su  NuLu  U
  2. [1 or 2 letters]

In English

  1. Moon-Powers are dispersed and 
  2.  [letters too uncertain to read]

Piacenza Liver Divination Results: Motion Powers Affect Life-Network by Planet (Red Section)

  1. The Greased-One (Selu) is not showing activity, Openings are not being foreshadowed (Planet Mercury = Selene)
  2. The Mounded-One (Venus) is being frustrated by the nourishments.  (Planet Venus = Ayu. Mound epithet likely references pregnancy)
  3. Does not Yahu (E') get energized by the Opener (Planet Mars = Thu/Athena who adds energy to things)
  4. Activity is not coming to this handler (Yahu).  (Planet Jove (Yove, Yowe), later Jupiter = Yahweh)
  5. Tears confuse the life-manifestations.  (Planet Saturn, oldest slowest planet subject to confusion)
  6. These emanations are being shaped by lunar-energy.   (Full moon motion source god = Su)

Comment

This section is blaming all the motion activity powers which push the fertility fluids through the life network towards the earth.

Left Inner Section 1

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. IPu  Ṣu  Y
  2. Pu  E  ITu

In English

  1. The Greased-One (Selu) is not showing activity, 
  2. Openings are not being foreshadowed

Left Inner Section 2

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.2)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. TaLu UZzu Bu  

In English

  1. The mounded-one is being frustrated by the nourishments

Left Inner Section 3

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.3)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ya E'u Gi Pu

In English

  1. Is not Yahu (E') being energized by the Opener

Left Inner Section 4

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.4)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ṣu  E  KPu  A

In English

  1. Activity is not coming from this handler

Left Inner Section 5

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.5)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. BaKu Du EŠ

In English

  1. Tears confuse the life-manifestations

Left Inner Section 6

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.2.6)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Zu  A  TaRu
  2. EZu

In English

  1. These emanations are being shaped by
  2. lunar-energy

Piacenza Liver Divination Results:  State of Life Manifestation by Cardinal Direction (Blue Section)  

  1. Threads are not being authorized (Western dusk powers which authorizes and grounds (sets) the days events. Hence the "setting sun." Earth element)
  2. Energy emanates from this (Southern humid wind weather powers which bring rain, Water element)
  3. The lack isolates Yahu (E'u) (Eastern dawn powers of the sun which bring warmth, healing, and order, Fire element)
  4. This boundary is lacking the winnowing of twigs (threads)   (Northern cold wind winnowing powers which bring winter storms and chaos. Winnowing is done by divine birds. Element of Air

Comment

This text is stating the problem is with the editing of the life network threads. Energy powers are normal and life manifestation is normal.

The rotation through the cardinal directions is counterclockwise which goes with their reading direction of right to left. The life form manifestation god Yahu is not getting triggered by the appropriate network threads (channels). 


Middle Section 1

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.3.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Qu  E  RaBu

In English

  1. Threads are not being authorized

Middle Section 2

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.3.2)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Gu  A  Zu  (verb at end)

In English

  1. Energy emanates this

Middle Section 3

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.3.3)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Lu  E'u  GaGu

In English

  1. The lack isolates Yahu (E'u)

Middle Section 4

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.3.4)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. A  ETu  Lu  PeNu  Lāḥu

In English

  1. This boundary is lacking the winnowing of twigs (threads)

Piacenza Liver Divination Results: State of Under-dome Spirit Beings by Cardinal Directions (Black Section)

  1. Magic is lacking refuge for its activity. The veil is nourishing magic for the eagle-vultures (North)
  2. (can't read) (West?)
  3. (cant't read) (South?)
  4. (cant't read) (East?) 

Comment

The veil is the home of the dead spirits. It was thought to exit under the earth plane between it and the underdome.  North is the darkest and coldest cardinal direction. Its stars regularly visit the veil as they dip below the horizon. Its powers are represented by the goddess Hekate. The first line is stating that because magic is not put to rest at night by descending into the veil that the magic leaks out to activate uncontrolled eagle vultures who cut the life network channels.

Top Section

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.4.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Tu  Lu  GuZu  Ṣu
  2. APu
  3. Bu
  4. Tu
  5. Ru

In English

  1. Magic is lacking refuge for its activity 
  2. The veil
  3. is nourishing
  4. magic
  5. for the eagle-vultures

Bottom Section on Gall Bladder (3 Sections)

(Can't read enough of these rounded sections)

Final Conclusion about Under-dome Spirit Affects: They are Causing Neglect (Yellow Section)

  1. [ ]
  2. [ ]
  3. [ ]
  4. The paralysis is being attended by nothing (not being supported by anything)
  5. Because of the coast (sky-dome) energy is nothing
  6. Kate (Hekate) is opening neglect
  7. [  ] comes-near 
  8. Activity is energized by Thu

Right Outer Section 1

Letters too damaged for a good translation.

Right Outer Section 2

Letters too damaged for a good translation.

Right Outer Section 3

Letters too damaged for a good translation.

Right Outer Section 4

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.5.4)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. ḪaMu
  2. AḪu E

In English

  1. The paralysis
  2. is being attended by nothing

Right Outer Section 5

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.5.5)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ku  NaGu
  2. Gi  A  E

In English

  1. Due to the coast (sky-dome)
  2. Energy is nothing

Right Outer Section 6

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.5.6)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. KaTe Pu
  2. EGu

In English

  1. Kate (Hekate) is opening
  2. neglect

Right Outer Section 7

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.5.7)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. [Letters too damaged for a good translation]   Ṭ’u

In English

  1. [  ] come near 

Right Outer Section 8

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.5.8)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ṣu  Ṭu  Gi  (verb at end)

In English

  1. Activity is energized by Thu

Final Conclusion About Earth Manifestations: Drought is due to Network Confusion Sown by Eagle-Vultures. Everything Else is Good. (White Section)

  1. Magic's enemies are nourishing the Baker (sun Hu)
  2. Nourishments are bursting Hu
  3. Motion-powers are not [word]. Nourishments are being emitted (by life priests), Energy is being emitted (by magic crafters)
  4. Threads have been goosed yet the activators (magic crafters) are frustrated
  5. Selu is emptying Thu of glow.
  6. The lack of (Selu's) emanations is due to life-manifestations
  7. Is not Yahu (E') being opened?
  8. Eagle-Vultures are activating confusion

Right Inner Section 1

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Tu IBu Bu Z'u

In English

  1. Magic's enemy is nourishing the Baker

Right Inner Section 2

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.2)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Bu G'u Hu

In English

  1. Nourishments are bursting Hu 

Right Inner Section 3

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.3)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. a'U [1]  E
  2. B  Zu  Gi  Zu

In English

  1. Motion-powers are not [word]
  2. Nourishments are being emitted, Energy is being emitted

Right Inner Section 4

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.4)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Qu USu
  2. Ṣu UZze  (Ṣ is reversed from normal)

In English

  1. Threads have been goosed
  2. The activators are frustrated

Right Inner Section 5

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.5)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. ŠeLu  NeZu  
  2. Ṭu  PaSu

In English

  1.  Selu is emptying
  2. Thu of light

Right Inner Section 6

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.6)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Lu Zu (vertical top to bottom)
  2. Ku  Du (horizontal right to left)

In English

  1. The lack of emanations
  2. is due to life-manifestations

Right Inner Section 7

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.7)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ya E'u Pu

In English

  1. Is not Yahu (E') being opened?

Right Inner Section 8

Translation in Akkadian (North Text 1.6.8)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels)
  1. Ru  Ṣu  EŠ

In English

  1. Eagle-Vultures are activating confusion

Other Alpine Celtic Cast Bronzes

Bronze Bull Head from Switzerland (400-500 BCE)

Being in central Europe most of these seem to have been found prior to proper archaeology and are now in the hands of private collectors.

PROVENANCE: Ex- Leo Mildenberg (1913-2001) collection, Zurich

SERIAL NO: 17660

Online at: https://www.e-tiquities.com/gallery/ancient-celtic-bronze-head-of-a-bull