DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36954#0198
100; cf. TyK^A, 31-60, 36-101 = Nr. 85, 39-99, and )3y?yK?j372^,
30-6 - Nr. 60, 34-96 = Nr. 113, 47-13 - Nr. 36b),^ and
"slave of Tishtriya" (39-96).2^ Ahura Mazda is referred to in
A*K777?3z;5't (26-1; a possible variant Aibzwzt7(?) in 36-93, where
the letters have been added subsequently in smaller writing)
and (36-45 = Nr. 44; cf. Bactrian ??Mz<7o, 34-120), while
5yn; (generally "demon") retains its older sense "god" in6y^^ m
(Thor North) as in some other Sogdian personal names.^ The
total absence of the god Mithra from the onomastics is note-
worthy, and could be taken to lend some support to the theory
that he was commonly referred to in Sogdiana merely as Baga
"the god",^ cf. the names j3y"j3y'?t (31-99 = Nr. 77a; 114-2),
j3y'j3y'rf (5-31; 31-98 = Nr. 76), (Thor North = Nr.
137),and j3yy5(3"7-(31-53(?); 39-80 = Nr. 17k).
22 One need not assume that "rich" in personal names (for which cf.
also yHJxws, 5 3-26; yujpr?? ZA (?) yuwws BRK, 34-40 (?) and 40-19
= Nr. 34a) always refers to a divinity, but these examples seem unam-
biguous. HUMBACH, 1980: 203, followed more tentatively by ZIM-
MER, 1984: 198, identifies the "rich god" as the Moon, but there are
other possibilities to be considered, including, most obviously, Mithra:
cf. Avestan corresponding to Vedic wifrasya rcuafa^ (see
SCHLERATH, 1968: 162a), Middle Persian -Rbw-wt'^raH as a family-
name (NYBERG, 1974: 169b, citing also Greek
2 3 It is possible to understand fy5r- as a pseudo-historical spelling for fy$-
(cf. WEBER, 1972: 199—200) from fKffnya-, probably based on the
genuinely historical spelling wy<5r- beside wy?- < w(&a-.
24 Cf. HENNING, 1965: 253-254, and YOSHIDA, 1984: 149.
2 5 This theory, propounded long ago by J. MARKWART (MARQUART,
1896: 63—65) but still controversial, cannot be discussed here. The
most important literature on this subject is cited in SIMS-WILLIAMS,
1988. (Cf. also fn. 22 above).
26 In HUMBACH's edition (1980: 224), the captions to the photographs
of Nr. 137 and Nr. 135 have been accidentally exchanged.
136
30-6 - Nr. 60, 34-96 = Nr. 113, 47-13 - Nr. 36b),^ and
"slave of Tishtriya" (39-96).2^ Ahura Mazda is referred to in
A*K777?3z;5't (26-1; a possible variant Aibzwzt7(?) in 36-93, where
the letters have been added subsequently in smaller writing)
and (36-45 = Nr. 44; cf. Bactrian ??Mz<7o, 34-120), while
5yn; (generally "demon") retains its older sense "god" in6y^^ m
(Thor North) as in some other Sogdian personal names.^ The
total absence of the god Mithra from the onomastics is note-
worthy, and could be taken to lend some support to the theory
that he was commonly referred to in Sogdiana merely as Baga
"the god",^ cf. the names j3y"j3y'?t (31-99 = Nr. 77a; 114-2),
j3y'j3y'rf (5-31; 31-98 = Nr. 76), (Thor North = Nr.
137),and j3yy5(3"7-(31-53(?); 39-80 = Nr. 17k).
22 One need not assume that "rich" in personal names (for which cf.
also yHJxws, 5 3-26; yujpr?? ZA (?) yuwws BRK, 34-40 (?) and 40-19
= Nr. 34a) always refers to a divinity, but these examples seem unam-
biguous. HUMBACH, 1980: 203, followed more tentatively by ZIM-
MER, 1984: 198, identifies the "rich god" as the Moon, but there are
other possibilities to be considered, including, most obviously, Mithra:
cf. Avestan corresponding to Vedic wifrasya rcuafa^ (see
SCHLERATH, 1968: 162a), Middle Persian -Rbw-wt'^raH as a family-
name (NYBERG, 1974: 169b, citing also Greek
2 3 It is possible to understand fy5r- as a pseudo-historical spelling for fy$-
(cf. WEBER, 1972: 199—200) from fKffnya-, probably based on the
genuinely historical spelling wy<5r- beside wy?- < w(&a-.
24 Cf. HENNING, 1965: 253-254, and YOSHIDA, 1984: 149.
2 5 This theory, propounded long ago by J. MARKWART (MARQUART,
1896: 63—65) but still controversial, cannot be discussed here. The
most important literature on this subject is cited in SIMS-WILLIAMS,
1988. (Cf. also fn. 22 above).
26 In HUMBACH's edition (1980: 224), the captions to the photographs
of Nr. 137 and Nr. 135 have been accidentally exchanged.
136