*per(kw/g)- and Greek terms

From: A.
Message: 59441
Date: 2008-07-02

Greetings all,

I had a few questions which I am hoping my betters (aka you all) can
enlighten me about:

1) I see there was a discussion on the Greek
keraunos 'thunder/thunderbolt' and whether it might somehow be
derived from *per(kw/g)- meaning 'hit/strike'. Was any consensus ever
reached on whether this was a likely origin?

2) Regarding Herakles, the folk-etymology is 'Hera (the Goddess) & -
kles (glory/fame)' ; thus leading to a meaning of either 'Hera's
glory' or else 'Glory over/despite Hera' (as markodegard posited in
the archives back in August 2001).
I know that *per(kw/g)- also produces Celtic-Roman Hercynia and
Armenian har(k).
My question is, considering the mythic similarities with
other "Striker Gods" such as Thor, Indra, and Perun... could Herakles
conceivably derive from the same *per(kw/g)- thus giving a meaning
or 'Glorious Striker' or some such ???

3) IF the cult of Herakles were imported into Greece from another
land, what language during that period could have produced *per
(kw/g) -> Herk ... or is it ridiculous to imagine they would add
an "a" to go from Herk -> Herak ??


Any and all help with these issues would be greatly appreciated!!!

Sincerely,
Aydan