Chapter from the book: Larsson, J et al. 2024. Indo-European Interfaces: Integrating Linguistics, Mythology and Archaeology.
In this paper, I discuss phraseology relating to the distribution of wealth in a variety of Indo-European languages. In addition to the well-known phrase "(gods), givers of goods" (discovered by Benfey in 1872), I show that a parallel phrase "set-in-motion the goods" can be reconstructed on the basis of Vedic, Tocharian, and Anatolian. One or the other of these elements ('set-in-motion', 'goods') also appear in characteristic designations for 'lord' in several Indo-European traditions.
Barnes, T. 2024. The distribution of goods and lordship in Indo-European: ‘Givers of goods’ and Vedic vásu savi-, Toch. B saswe ‘lord’, and Hittite aššu šuwe-. In: Larsson, J et al (eds.), Indo-European Interfaces. Stockholm: Stockholm University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/bcn.b
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Published on June 11, 2024