Re: Shuwardata

From: wtsdv
Message: 11737
Date: 2001-12-08

T. Burrows suggests Šuvardata < *svarda:ta- 'given by heaven'.
It seems that it could also be from *suvar-dha:ta- 'established
by the sun (god)' < I.E. *suHel- 'sun' and *dheH- 'to set, put',
cf. the Khotanese word da:ta- 'set, laid down, established; law',
and the name Mithridates < Mithra-da:ta- 'established by Mithra
(also a sun god)'. Several Iranian names are formed in this way,
for example Av. Spentô-dâta, Av. Vohu-dâta, Av. Hva-dâta,
and O.Pers. Vahyas-dâta. Although the form 'suvar-' doesn't allow
an Iranian, but only an Indo-Aryan or Proto-Indo-Iranian etymology.

David

--- In cybalist@..., "jdcroft" <jdcroft@...> wrote:
> Shuwardata of Keilah wrote a letter to Akhenaton, attacking
> AbdiHepa of Jerusalem in the Amarna letters.
>
> I have seen it claimed that Shuwardata is an Indo-European name.
> Personally I believe it to be of Hurrian extraction.... as was
> Hepa of the AbdiHepa name (Abdi of course is Semitic).
>
> Can anyone help me out on this one?
>
> Regards
>
> John