Re: [TIED] alphèstès

----- Original Message -----

From: Yves Deroubaix

To: cybalist@eGroups.com

Cc: cybalist@eGroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 9:52 PM

Subject: [TIED] alphèstès

 

Of course it's Homer, not Herodotus. Actually, alphEstEs means 'traders, seafarers, men of enterprise' and derives from alphE 'gain, produce', not from alphi 'barley flour'. Cf. Lithuanian alga 'wages, pay', Sanskrit arhati 'he earns'. The underlying PIE forms are reconstructible as *xalgWH-e- 'to gain', *xalgWH-ax- 'profit, reward', possibly related also to Hittite halkuessar (n.) 'harvest, produce set aside for offerings'.

 

Piotr

 

 

 

Yves asked:

Could someone help me: In the Odysseia Herodotos uses the word 'alphèstès'
as epitethon ornans for 'people'. Is it true this word means 'bread-eating'
or are there other theories? Let me know!