From: Joao S. Lopes
Message: 37163
Date: 2005-04-13
--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@...>
wrote:
> Piotr Gasiorowski wrote:
>
> > A plausible Iranian etymology is certainly possibkle here, with
Boru-
> > being the Hellenised version of *vauru-/*voru- < *varu- <
*wr.h1u-
> > 'wide' (Av. vouru-), and -sthe:ne:s possibly of *sta:na- 'place,
area,
> > room' (Av. sta:na-): the place where the river flows wide.
>
> Oops, The first /e/ is short in Greek Borusthene:s. Still, an
etymology
> based on something like *voru-stan&- < *varu-sta:na- appears
possible.
>
> Piotr
I agree. The Greek form probably received the short -e- and the
aspiration due to an association with the frequent personal names in -
sthene:s. After all, Borysthenes was also considered a god, cf. SEG
42.710 (Olbia, ca. 500 BC?):
...] au)=tis oi( bwmoi\ beblamme/no[i ei)si\ ... M]htro\s Qew=n kai\
Borusqe/<neos> kai\ H(rakl[e/os ... "the altars of the Mother of
Gods, Borysthenes and Herakles have been destroyed again"