Re: Scythian query

From: Ravi Chaudhary
Message: 16957
Date: 2002-12-01

--- In cybalist@..., george knysh <gknysh@...> wrote:
> In cybalist@..., george knysh <gknysh@...> wrote:
>
> --- Ravi Chaudhary <ravi9@...> wrote:
> > --- In cybalist@..., george knysh <gknysh@...>
> > wrote:
> > > One of the major Scythian groupings mentioned by
> > > Herodotus was that of the KATIAR. Scions of the
> > > "second son" of Targitaos. Almost certainly
> > "Nomadic"
> > > Scythians (along with the TRASPIES). In our
> > > collaborative efforts to understand and
> > etymologize
> > > the names of various 5th c. BC Scythian tribal
> > > alliances, the KATIAR have so far proved elusive.
> > So
> > > my query is this: would it make any sense at all
> > to
> > > compare the name of these ancient folk to that of
> > the
> > > contemporary Iranian BAKHTIAR? If so, what would
> > be
> > > the relevant articulations? -AR? -IAR? -TIAR?
> > >
> >
> > *********
> >
> > Katiar, Kataria,
> >
> > are clan names still found in the Punjab and the
> > Jats of North India.
> >
> > Ravi
>
> *****GK: That's very interesting, Ravi. What is the
> etymology of these names in Indic speeches?*****
> >
>

I am looking for help too, as you are aware.


The clan names as far as I can see:

There is often a suffix involved like: - I, IA, iar, iya,

Thus: mall- I, Mall - IA, Malliar, - Malli- ya, all of them
signifying … of the mall.


For mall. Substitute any clan name you like (to a point), then you
will find e.g. Tewat-ia, Alhuwal - IA, or Bagar-i.

The suffixes -iar, aria are fairly interchangeable and not too much
significance should be attached.


That is the cultural background.

It may also be of significance that the attachment to clan names
especially in the North Indian Jats is very strong, being passed down
from father to son, and it is said that the Jat will forget all, but
will remember his ancestral clan name or Gotra. They take this back
to the legendary Vedic times.


When you look at the classical texts, Herodotus etc, my reading is
that that the clan name got taken for the name of a people, and got
permanentized as such. So looking for a people called Katiar, - well
good luck, but looking for clan with a variation of Kat, as Kat- iar,
Kat- araia, you are likely to find what you are looking for,


The question to ask is what is the etymology of - KAT.

Just some suggestions.

Ravi

I have formed a list, where these and other questions will come up.
All are welcome to join.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory

Many questions will cross the borders as we know them today.


Ravi