Re: [tied] First iron swords on mass scale

Piotr Gasiorowski wrote:

> There is no demonstrably PIE word for iron (wrought or meteoritic), let alone steel,
>

Thanks. In my opinion, the origin of "steel" should be more
interesting than "iron", as steel was developed relatively
late and IE smiths could substantially contribute to this
invention.

> Greek has si:de:ros/-on is no doubt a loanword, perhaps somehow related to Latin si:dus, -eris
> 'constellation, star(s)' (magnetite = star-stone??).
>

[and]

> Hittite hapalkija- is non-IE. Like Hurrite hapalkinu it was borrowed from Hattic hapalki 'iron'.
>

What does it mean in context of the first experience of
Greeks with iron? Does it suggest that there was no early
(pre 1200 BC) contact between Greeks (Dorians) and Hittite
Empire, and that Hittites did not contribute directly to
Doric metallurgy? What was the name for "iron" in Phrygian?

Michal