Re: [tied] Re: I, Hercules [was: A "Germanic" query] IRMIN

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

From: tgpedersen

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 10:26 AM

Subject: [tied] Re: I, Hercules [was: A "Germanic" query] IRMIN

> In light of New Persian <e:rma:n>, which developped from <Aryaman> within an Iranic language, are you certain that Alanian did not have a similar form?

 

As the name "Alani" proves, the development of *arya- in Alanic was different from that in Persian. Besides, the initial vowel is short in Germanic; it can't represent *e: < *ai (*airiia-).

> The Gallehus gold horn has the name Hlewa-gastiz "fame guest". Is it possible to interpret *gasti-z not as "guest" but "host", ie. a "free spender" and therefore a good sovereign?

 

Is there a shred of independent evidence for such an interpretation?

 

> Is Gothic <ermana-> etc known outside of ethnonyms and personal names? If not, what else is the translation as "strong, powerful, great" based on?

It is found as an intensifying prefix in common vocabulary, cf. OIc. jörmun-gandr 'huge monster' (not 'friendly monster') or jörmun-grund 'the wide earth'

 

Piotr 

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