From: tgpedersen
Message: 59624
Date: 2008-07-24
>Placenames from Njord:
> I have been struggling with this and hope someone can give me the
> proper guidance....
>
> The Norse Vanic aquatic deity Njord is supposed to be
> linguistically related to Nerthus (via the Proto-Gmc Nerthuz).
>
> If we can connect Nerthuz with Nereus we might then assume a rather
> precise match between Njord & Nereus.
>
>
> C. Gwinn stated:
> "There likely is a connection between Nereus and the Irish Nera
> (who seems to be a late reflection of the Gaulish god Nerios, the
> tutelary divinity of the healing waters at Neris-les-Bains,
> France)."
>
> On Nerios a quick search reveals:
> Nerius is known from inscriptions found at Haegen, Bas-Rhin, France
> where he is invoked along with Bugius as well as at Néris-le-Bains,
> Allier, France.
> At Néris-le-Bains the tale of the town itself is inextricably
> linked with its thermal springs, which in early Celtic times seem
> to have been linked with the deity Nerios. Eventually a township
> arose at the crossroads between two main roads and this was given
> the name Neriomagos (Nerios' Marketplace).
>
> As to Nera:
> Nera is a warrior in the Ulster Cycle, there are some aquatic
> references present in the tale as well as a trip to the Underworld.
>
> There are also Nera Rivers which are tributaries of the Tiber, the
> Indigirka, and the Danube.
>
> Lastly Aigius mentioned the "Lithuanian word NERE, meaning WAS
> DIVING"
>
>
> In light of this evidence does it seem valid to suggest that all
> are derived from *Ner(1)- , meaning "under"?
>