This is also illustrated by another fashion, possibly ancient, of
Semitic religious nomenclature: not only was the individual frequently
named after the deity, but the deity might sometimes receive as a
cult-title the name of the individual. Of this practice among the
polytheistic Semites the only examples of which I am aware come from a
late period and from the region of Palmyra: Greek inscriptions of the
late Imperial era give such curious forms as Θεὸς Ἀὐμοῦ, Θεὸς {196}
Οὐασεάθου, Θεὸς Ἀμέρου:[196.1] and these descriptive names in the
genitive must designate the principal worshipper or founder of the
cult; they are mostly un-Greek, as the religious custom certainly is,
which is illustrated by such ancient Biblical expressions as “the God
of Abraham,” “the God of Jacob.” We may find an example of the same
point of view in the Phrygian title of Μὴν Φαρνάκου in Pontus, if we
take the most probable explanation, namely, that it is derived from
the Persian Pharnakes, the founder of the cult;[196.2] and again in a
Carian dedication to Zeus Panamaros Ἀργύρου, as Ἄργυρος is found in
the same neighbourhood as the name of a living man.[196.3]
The only parallel that Hellenic religion offers is the doubtful one,
Athena Αἰαντίς, whose temple is recorded at Megara:[196.4] it may be
that the goddess took her title from the hero because his grave was
once associated with the temple. In any case, it is not so striking
that the mythic hero should stand in this intimate relation with the
deity as that the living individual should.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account