--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Joao S. Lopes" <josimo70@...> wrote:
>
>
> 2 - Could Njo¨rDr/Nerthus related to Jo¨rDr/*Erthus "Earth" ?
>
> *Nerthuz < *Ni-ertu-, or *Ner-ertu-, "under-earth" ?
>
> JS Lopes
Joao,
The last suggestion is very interesting to me. Especially if we
consider:
1) The similarity between Nerthus and the Slavic deity "Moist Mother
Earth".
2) That the temple of Nerthus was reportedly on an island, that when
the cart was done with its rounds it was ritually washed in a lake
and the slaves who washed it were then drowned.
Obviously if there is a linguistic reason why *h2ner- 'man', is more
likely, I would change my opinion... but if there is no such rule of
sound shifts or some such justification, then I am again inclined to
believe the names stem from a form of *Ner- which has some aquatic or
spring like connotation.
Regards,
Aydan