Re: [tied] Aquae Iasae

david_russell_watson wrote:

>
> More than one Roman town founded upon a thermal spring was
> named 'Aquae Iasae'. I can't locate 'ias-' in my own Latin
> dictionary, nor in two that I checked online, but surely it
> is in some way connected to the Greek 'iasis' and 'iaomai',
> and refers to the therapeutic effect attributed to bathing
> in such springs. Is it not?

I've never inquired into it, but perhaps the toponym is formed from a
Latinised version of <Iasó:>, the Greek goddess of recovery, connected
of course with <íasis> 'healing', <iaté:r ~ iáto:r> 'physician', etc.,
all from <i(:)áomai> 'heal' (with ie:- in Ion.). The etymology is
unsettled and burdened with formal problems, perhaps from *isa:- related
to Gk. hierós (with the meaning 'strong') and Skr. is.irá-.

Piotr