From Iranian to Greek via Aramaic: A Proposal for 'odrogos' (Metropolis, Ionia)

Year 2025, Volume: 29, 9 - 26, 11.05.2025

Bartomeu Obrador-cursach , Diego Corral Varela

https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1580661

Abstract

The term odrogos designates some kind of office associated with to the cults of Ares and Zeus Krezimos in the city of Metropolis (Ionia) from the Hellenistic period to the 2nd century CE, although its origin has so far eluded identification. This paper presents a first linguistic analysis of the term, arguing for an Iranian etymology *ādranga-. The phonetic differences observed suggest that the loan did not pass directly into Greek. Instead, it likely entered Greek through Aramaic, where several forms related to the same Iranian etymon are attested. Based on this new identification, some proposals are offered as to its function and the time of its adoption. Thus, the hypothesis defended here is that the figure of the odrogos is related to the practice, reasonably well known in Asia Minor, of the purchase of priesthoods. The conjunction of all the preceding data, including the term’s attestations and proposed linguistic analysis, makes it feasible to place the contact scenario within the period of Seleucid control over Ionia.

Keywords

Iranian loanword, Aramaic transmission, Greek linguistic contact, priesthood sale, Ares worship.

Thanks

The authors are very grateful to Elena P. Hernández Rivero (SCI - USal), who carried out the painstaking task of correcting the English text and improving its style. Needless to say, any mistake is their responsibility alone.

Farsçadan Aramice Aracılığıyla Yunancaya: ‘Odrogos’ (Metropolis, Ionia) İçin Bir Öneri

Abstract

Odrogos terimi, Hellenistik dönemden MS 2. yüzyıla kadar Metropolis (Ionia) kentinde Ares ve Zeus Krezimos kültleriyle ilişkili bir tür makamı tanımlar, ancak kökeni şimdiye kadar tespit edilememiştir. Bu makale terimin ilk dilbilimsel analizini sunmakta ve İran kökenli *ādranga- etimolojisini savunmaktadır. Gözlemlenen fonetik farklılıklar, bu sözcüğün doğrudan Yunancaya geçmediğini göstermektedir. Bunun yerine, Yunancaya muhtemelen aynı İran etimonuyla ilişkili birkaç formun bulunduğu Aramice aracılığıyla girmiştir. Bu yeni tanımlamaya dayanarak, işlevine ve benimsenme zamanına ilişkin bazı öneriler sunulmuştur. Dolayısıyla, burada savunulan hipotez odrogos figürünün Küçük Asya’da oldukça iyi bilinen rahiplik satın alma uygulamasıyla ilişkili olduğudur. Terimin kanıtları ve önerilen dilbilimsel analiz de dahil olmak üzere önceki tüm verilerin bir araya getirilmesi, sözcüğün bölgeye giriş senaryosunu Seleukosların Ionya üzerindeki kontrolü dönemine yerleştirmeyi mümkün kılmaktadır.

Keywords

İranca alıntı sözcük, Aramice aktarım, Yunanca dilsel temas, rahiplik satışı, Ares tapınımı

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