Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/Hásuras

This Proto-Indo-Iranian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Indo-Iranian

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḿ̥suros, from *h₂ems- (to engender, beget). Cognate with Proto-Germanic *ansuz (god, deity).

Noun

*Hásuras m

  1. (religion) deity

Declension

masculine a-stem
singular dual plural
nominative *Hásuras *Hásurā(w) *Hásurās(as)
vocative *Hásura *Hásurā(w) *Hásurās(as)
accusative *Hásuram *Hásurā(w) *Hásurāns
instrumental *HásuraH *Hásuraybʰyā(m) *Hásurāyš
ablative *Hásurāt *Hásuraybʰyā(m) *Hásuraybʰyas
dative *Hásurāy *Hásuraybʰyā(m) *Hásuraybʰyas
genitive *Hásurasya *Hásurayās *HásurānaHam
locative *Hásuray *Hásurayaw *Hásurayšu

Coordinate terms

Usage notes

In the later descendant languages and religions, *Hásuras has become opposed to *daywás. So in the Iranian tradition, the reflexes of *Hásuras are used positively, while those of *daywás come to mean “demon, devil”. The opposite is true in the later Hindu tradition, but in its earliest source, the Rig Veda, both words are used interchangeably to refer to divinities, as is also the case with the Germanic cognates *ansuz and *tīwaz.

Descendants

  • Proto-Indo-Aryan: *Hásuras
    • Sanskrit: असुर (ásura) (see there for further descendants)
  • Proto-Iranian: *Háhurah
  • Proto-Uralic: *asera[1][2]
    • Proto-Mordvinic: *azərə
      • Erzya: азоро (azoro, lord)
      • Moksha: азор (azor, lord)
    • Proto-Permic:
      • Komi-Zyrian: озыр (ozyr)
      • Udmurt: узыр (uzyr)
    • Proto-Ugric:
      • Proto-Mansi: *ātər
        • Northern Mansi: [script needed] (ōtər, prince)
      • >? Hungarian: úr (lord)

References

  1. ^ Parpola, Asko (2015) The Roots of Hinduism: The Early Aryans and the Indus Civilization, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 114
  2. ^ Václav Blažek (2005) “Indo-Iranian elements in Fenno-Ugric mythological lexicon”, in Indogermanische Forschungen, volume 110, number 1, →DOI, page 162

Further reading

  • Joki, Aulis J. (1973) Uralier und Indogermanen [Uralians and Indo-Europeans] (Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia; 151) (in German), Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, →ISBN