Mark Odegard wrote:
A couple of selections from the Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture
(EIEC):Identifications more widely accepted derived from the first centuries AD where the Venedi, generally presumed to be the Slavic Wends, are recorded to the east of the Vistula. -- 'Slavic Languages', p. 524.Among those who look to Poland as the Slavic homeland, the Przeworsk culture shows continuity with the preceding cultures (Lusatian) and insures that the Slavic homeland was in this territory from whence the Venedi, one of hte earliest historically attested Slavic tribes, are specifically derived. -- 'Przeworsk Culture', p. 470.Under 'desire', p. 158, EIEC gives *u+Ay8-enh x- (first character is u-combining breve below = 'w'), and notes it is "widespread and old in IE". The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition, gives this as the root underlying 'Wend', along with Venus and Vanir, and English 'win', among others.EIEC says it underlies Latin venus 'lust', Old Norse vinr 'friend', Old English wine 'friend'; Old High German gi-winnen 'achieve through struggle': Gothic wens 'hope'; perhaps Hittite wen 'copulate'; Avestan vanta 'beloved wife'; Old Indic vanas- 'lust', vanoti 'demands, strives for, likes, obtains, conquers', vama 'dear'; etc. No specifically Slavic root is given.
The semantic space is desire, wish, something for which one strives to win.
One interesting thought is the connection between the Vanir, the Norse family of gods, and the speculative possibility that whatever historical nugget may lay underneath their name may be connected to the Wendish people.
As an ethnonym, you have to think about it. The Strivers? The Lustful Ones? The Friends?
Is there is a connection with the root that underlies Venedi, 'Venetic'?
Mark.
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www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communicationsMark Odegard wrote:
A couple of selections from the Encyclopedia of Indo-European CultureMark,
(EIEC):Identifications more widely accepted derived from the first centuries AD where the Venedi, generally presumed to be the Slavic Wends, are recorded to the east of the Vistula. -- 'Slavic Languages', p. 524.Among those who look to Poland as the Slavic homeland, the Przeworsk culture shows continuity with the preceding cultures (Lusatian) and insures that the Slavic homeland was in this territory from whence the Venedi, one of hte earliest historically attested Slavic tribes, are specifically derived. -- 'Przeworsk Culture', p. 470.Under 'desire', p. 158, EIEC gives *u?enh x- (first character is u-combining breve below = 'w'), and notes it is "widespread and old in IE". The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition, gives this as the root underlying 'Wend', along with Venus and Vanir, and English 'win', among others.EIEC says it underlies Latin venus 'lust', Old Norse vinr 'friend', Old English wine 'friend'; Old High German gi-winnen 'achieve through struggle': Gothic wens 'hope'; perhaps Hittite wen 'copulate'; Avestan vanta 'beloved wife'; Old Indic vanas- 'lust', vanoti 'demands, strives for, likes, obtains, conquers', vama 'dear'; etc. No specifically Slavic root is given.
The semantic space is desire, wish, something for which one strives to win.
One interesting thought is the connection between the Vanir, the Norse family of gods, and the speculative possibility that whatever historical nugget may lay underneath their name may be connected to the Wendish people.
As an ethnonym, you have to think about it. The Strivers? The Lustful Ones? The Friends?
Is there is a connection with the root that underlies Venedi, 'Venetic'?
Mark.
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The majority of the Przeworsk area is located between the Vistula and Elbe rivers. This is the area identified by Tacitus, in his Germania, as settled by various Germanic tribes generally considered Vandalic. It remained this way until the East Germanic peoples began their migrations.
As they abandoned an area they were replaced by the Slavs and Balts. The Vandalic peoples were in the area until the 4th/5th centuries. Some probably remained. When the Slavs moved into Silesia (after the Silings) they met a people they called the Niemcy. This was an old Slavic name for Germans. The area where they found them is called Nimptsch and is located near Mt. Zobten. Mt. Zobten was one of the Germans most sacred places, mentioned by Tacitus as being in the land of the Naharvali.
I know there is much difference of opinion about whether the Przeworsk culture is Germanic or Slavic. Maybe it is both. Culture sites have been found on the east bank of the Vistula. Border areas were surely culture exchange areas. But I think it is primarily Germanic.
What about the preceeding Lausitz culture? Germanic? Slavic? Maybe neither.
Remains show a short statured mediterranean/armenoid people beleived to have originally come from the southeast. Due to weather and outside pressure (Scythian, Celt, and Teuton) the area was abandoned around the third century B.C. It was into this void that the Germanic peoples moved.
Piotr, this is your home area. I would appreciate your input.
One last thing, Piotr. In your post you mention that the Veneti once were on the Baltic as traders. Do you know how extensive their settlements were?
Thanks very much.
Steve Woodson