Professor Ivan Tsvetaev and His Methods of the Epigraphic Research: Interpretation of the Bronze From Falerii Novi (Cil I2.365)

Ivan Vladimirovich Tsvetaev (1847-1913) was an outstanding Russian сlassical philologist, art historian and archaeologist, professor at the Moscow State University. He was known as the founder of the Alexander III Museum of Fine Arts. As a researcher, Tsvetaev was interested in Latin literature and Italic languages. The article is based on the linguistic analysis and interpretation of bronze tablet from Falerii Novi (CIL I2.365), published by Tsvetaev in the Ministry of Public Education journal in November 1883. Tsvetaev’s article is supplemented with comments of modern reading and explanation of some linguistic features, the historical grammar of Latin and other Italic languages, as well as a modern interpretation of the text and linguistic characteristics of the inscription language, which is still the subject of discussion. The article reveals an outstanding role of Tsvetaev in the development of the studies in Italic languages.