Lasa ed iconografia delle figure femminili alate su alcuni monumenti etruschi
Lasa and iconography of the winged female figures on some Etruscan monuments

Summary/Abstract: The paper is concerned with Lasa, a personage of the Etruscan pantheon, represented as a winged woman. Presented are interpretations of this figure as connected with the underworld demons, as a ‘servant’ of the goddess of love – Turan, and as a powerful Etruscan goddess. A table gathers artefacts on which, apart from the winged female figure appears also the name ‘Lasa’ (12 bronze mirrors and a gold finger ring from Todi). Four of them are described in detail, and confronted with various interpretations of the figure in question. Also the epithets of Lasa (Vecu/Vecuvia, Achununa, Racuneta, Sithmica and Thimrae) are explained. The paper attempts at answering the question whether the name Lasa can be used for all winged female figures in Etruscan art. Particular attention is given to mirrors belonging to the so-called Lasa Group, as well as Redfigure vases (e.g. Funnel Group and Clusium Group). Comparison of the nameless figures to Lasa allowed for the following conclusions: 1) the name Lasa should not be applied to any winged female figure, it would be more suitable to introduce the term ‘Pseudo-Lasa’; 2) the meaning of the winged female figure usually remains unclear, but it should probably be treated as connected with the world of women. The paper emphasizes that the figure of Lasa continues to raise questions, and her role in the Etruscan religion remains disputable.

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