Rending the Veil: Asklepios, Albanian, and the Quest for Etymological Truth"
Ἀσκληπιός, the ancient Greek god of medicine, has a name shrouded in mystery. Etymologists have long struggled to decipher its origins, with various theories proposed. However, a closer examination of the Albanian language reveals a fascinating connection.
The name Ἀσκληπιός can be broken down into its constituent parts: A-SKLE-PI-OS. The formative noun ending "-ios" is a common Greek suffix, leaving us with the root "SKLE". This is where the Albanian language provides a crucial clue.
In Albanian, the verb "shqyej" ,"shkliej" in Cham Albanian dialect means "to tear up" or "to rend". This root "shkle" is strikingly similar to the "SKLE" in Ἀσκληπιός. Furthermore, Albanian has another verb "shkep", which shares a similar meaning. This dual presence of "shkle" and "shkep" in Albanian suggests a connection with the Greek name.
R.S.P. Beekes, in his revised version of Frisk's Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, notes that the name Ἀσκληπιός is typical of pre-Greek words, with a voiced velar or voiceless velar sound followed by a "-σ-". This "-σ-" is significant, as it points to an substratal language influence.
Beekes proposes a pre-Greek protoform *(a)-syklap-, which could be related to the Albanian root "shkle". This connection is strengthened by the fact that the Albanian verb "shklyej" can imply a sense of "opening" or "rending", which resonates with the story of Ἀσκληπιός' birth.
The most straightforward myth is that Asclepius was born in Epidaurus to Apollo and Coronis, a mortal princess from Epidarus. Apollo sent his twin sister Artemis to burn Coronis at the stake after learning of her affair with Ischys. Apollo felt guilty and rescued the baby by "e shklier"
Ἀσκληπιός, the ancient Greek god of medicine, has a name shrouded in mystery. Etymologists have long struggled to decipher its origins, with various theories proposed. However, a closer examination of the Albanian language reveals a fascinating connection.
The name Ἀσκληπιός can be broken down into its constituent parts: A-SKLE-PI-OS. The formative noun ending "-ios" is a common Greek suffix, leaving us with the root "SKLE". This is where the Albanian language provides a crucial clue.
In Albanian, the verb "shqyej" ,"shkliej" in Cham Albanian dialect means "to tear up" or "to rend". This root "shkle" is strikingly similar to the "SKLE" in Ἀσκληπιός. Furthermore, Albanian has another verb "shkep", which shares a similar meaning. This dual presence of "shkle" and "shkep" in Albanian suggests a connection with the Greek name.
R.S.P. Beekes, in his revised version of Frisk's Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, notes that the name Ἀσκληπιός is typical of pre-Greek words, with a voiced velar or voiceless velar sound followed by a "-σ-". This "-σ-" is significant, as it points to an substratal language influence.
Beekes proposes a pre-Greek protoform *(a)-syklap-, which could be related to the Albanian root "shkle". This connection is strengthened by the fact that the Albanian verb "shklyej" can imply a sense of "opening" or "rending", which resonates with the story of Ἀσκληπιός' birth.
The most straightforward myth is that Asclepius was born in Epidaurus to Apollo and Coronis, a mortal princess from Epidarus. Apollo sent his twin sister Artemis to burn Coronis at the stake after learning of her affair with Ischys. Apollo felt guilty and rescued the baby by "e shklier"
cutting open Coronis' womb while she was burning.
While the mythological story is well-documented, the verb "shklier" offers a new layer of depth, suggesting a possible Albanian influence on the ancient Greek narrative.
The Albanian connection offers a compelling new perspective. It highlights the importance of exploring lesser-known languages, like Albanian, to uncover hidden linguistic and cultural treasures.
Copyright © 2024 Fatmir Iliazi.
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