inferior just means the mirage affects the area below the object/subject.
an etruscan vase just means it is shaped like the famous vase of antiquity - see second link
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weathe...ts/infmrge.htm
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/atoptics/sunmir2.htm
Cheers
Kearn the bombastic pedant
EDIT: LOL beaten to the punch hehe