Re: The Thrakoid presence in ancient Ukraine [Was:[tied] Thracian p

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Aigius" <segijus@...> wrote:

> > Neuroi are shown as Balts in that map:
> > http://www.istorija.net/photos/show-album.asp?
> albumid=13&photoid=242
> > But ancient name of river Narev was Naura:
> > http://www.istorija.net/photos/show-album.asp?
> albumid=13&photoid=243
> > Lithuanian word NIAURUS, meaning MOROSE, > feminine forms NIAURË,
> > NIAURA > river name Niaura (misspeling Naura) > name Niauras >
> > plural form Niaurai > Neuroi
> > Also, Herodotus about Neuroi: "One, I say, of the rivers which

the

> > Scythians have is the Ister; and after it the Tyras, which starts
> > from the North and begins its course from a large lake which is
> the
> > boundary between the land of the Scythians and that of the

Neuroi."

> > So, I think, Neuroi lived between rivers Tyras and Niaura.
> > What etymology can be of that Aukhata? Can it be such:
> > Lithuanan word AUKA, meaning SACRIFICE, + diminutive suffix - AIT
> >
> > name Aukaitis > feminine forms Aukaitë and Aukaita > Aukata?
> > Regards, Aigius
>
> Herodotus:
> "The Neuroi practise the Scythian customs: and one generation

before

> the expedition of Dareios it so befell them that they were forced

to

> quit their land altogether by reason of serpents: for their land
> produced serpents in vast numbers, and they fell upon them in still
> larger numbers from the desert country above their borders; until

at

> last being hard pressed they left their own land and settled among
> the Budinoi."
>
> So, Neuroi had migrated from banks of Niaura river towards land of
> Budinoi. Why? I think serpents is not enough reason.

But what were these serpents? This story is likely to have come a
long way and been translated through different languages. Just as an
example, could this have been a plague of plant eating caterpillars?

It is in fact hard to imagine a plague of cold blooded snakes so far
north (or anywhere).

Best Regards
Andrew