From: hwhatting
Message: 46938
Date: 2007-01-13
Puhvel gives a similar explanation in his "Comparative Mythology" (in my edition - John Hopkins University Press, 1989 - on p. 113/114, near the end of the chapter "ancient Iran"): "...and Paralátai, thus the consecrated power elite whose name (with l < d) recalls the Avestan Paradata, title of Haoyanha, one of the shadowy mythical sovereigns preceding Yama Xaeta...". He compares the word to Vedic puró-hita- "priest in charge" and Latin praefectus. So he seems to assume that this originally was a title meaning, "set/put before (others) > superior, prefect, head".
Best regards,
Hans-Werner
--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, george knysh <gknysh@...> wrote:
> One of his (Kull.'s) main points is that Scythian had
> substituted "l" for the earlier "d" (a lambdacising
> process within this particular context). This allows
> him to suggest that the earlier form of the Herodotan
> "Paralatai"/Paralata was "Paradata", known from
> Avestan. How plausible is this?
> Personally, I still prefer Piotr's analysis of
> "Paralata" as "foremost Aryans". It seems not only
> linguistically adequate, but historically plausible.
> What would "Paradata" mean? I've found "primitive
> establishment". Is there a better etymology? Above
> all, how would an ancient Avestan royal family wind up
> north of the Black Sea? Is this not a bit too fantastic?