Re: [tied] Greek+Slavic

--- "Daniel J. Milton" <dmilt1896@...> wrote:

> Puhvel's "Comparative Mythology" (p.49):
> "The 'minor' [Indic] Adityas are Aryama-, Bhaga-,
> Daksa-, and Amsa-./.../
> In part of the Iranian area, spilling
> over into Slavic,
> the cognate word has become the generic term for
> "god (Old Persian
> baga-, Old Slavic bogu."

> I think George has got things a bit backwards. I
> infer that
> function implied by the epithet seemed important
> enough to the
> Iranians to yield the general word for "god"

****GK: The earlier quote mentioned "part of the
Iranian area" only. Old Persia is noted. Is there a
more specific use reference? Is "baga" the generic god
word of Zoroastrianism? And what did it mean in the
unaffected Iranian areas?*****

and

> this was borrowed
> into Slavic (I believe borrowing is indicated on
> phonological grounds,
> although I can't lay my hands on a reference), while
> the Indians,
> perhaps having a wider view of divine functions,
> eventually restricted
> it to a minor deity.

*****GK: When? If memory serves "bhaga" was already a
minor deity in the Vedic poems. The Slavs got it from
the Scythians or from the Sarmatians. How can we tell
it was the generic "god" word for those Iranians? It
didn't have to be for people impressed by the wealth
of Scythian aristocrats to make "baga" THE "god".*****




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