Re: The Origins of Zürich...


Heidi Graw wrote:

Franz, something keeps nagging at my mind: Thurs is a word often used to
mean "giant."

Thank you for this information. There is also an Armenian /
Caucasian giant by the name of Torq, sort of a Polyphem,
protects the Anatolian shores of the Black Sea by throwing
boulders at pirates. Clearly also a derivate of hypothetical
TYR --- he who overcomes. Another Armenian god is Tir,
he overcomes people with dreams. Turan is the Etruscan
goddess of love, she overcomes people with sweet feelings.
And so on, and so on. Tyr seems to be one of the most
important early words. Well understandable to me. Humans
and hominids have been exposed to natural powers and
animals of prey for six million years, then, some 40,000
years ago, their tools and weapons were good enough to
cope with wild animals and other dangers, and someone
who was able to take it up with a cave bear (larger than
a grizzly) was called ARC TYR --- he who overcomes (tyr)
a cave bear (arc), origin of the dragon slayer Arthur, in
later times remains of the long extinct cave bear have been
regarded as remains of dragons, and someone who could
cope with a powerful river - snakes are often symbols of
waterways, an explanation of _Limmat_, river of Zuerich,
is Linda Magos, giant snake, Linda as in Lindwurm - was
also an overcomer in some way ... I ponder these words,
and have not yet reached a conclusion. Anyway, my idea
of TYR being a very ancient word with the meaning of
overcome, in the double sense of rule and give, seems
clear to me. What do you know about dragons - in the
sense of Lindwurm - and rivers? any hints in Germanic
mythology?

There is a story about Thor returning from one of his adventures when he
came across a giantess who straddled the river and caused it to rise.

Thanks, I'll study this.

Perhaps the word Thor and/or Thurs are somehow connected to the Thur names,
ie. Winterthur...Winter Giant.

Winterthur is typical folk etymology, as Cossiniacum
Kuessnacht Kissing Night ... Winterthur comes from
Vitudurum / Vitodurum. The word dur- appears in river
names, duri Thur, dor- Dordogne, etc. If vito is Latin,
the name means: a river one has to avoid, a river
that causes floodings, but I am not sure.

Have a nice weekend

Franz Gnaedinger

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Magdalenian words and compounds 2006/7
    ... a river having water (not just ... TYR RYT, RTY YTR, YRT TRY --- to overcome, ... , ancient Greek ... and overcomes the enemies). ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Magdalenian experiment (continuation)
    ... river delta of the Amu-Darja. ... DAI TYR on one of the numerous arms ... The fairy tale is called The Battle ... Now all this can be explained via copper. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Magdalenian words and compounds 2006/7
    ... TYR RYT, RTY YTR, YRT TRY --- to overcome, ... , ancient Greek ... and overcomes the enemies). ... positive meaning of tyrant), Latin radius radii ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Magdalenian words and compounds 2006/7
    ... god ... TYR REO and PE LAS and TYR SA NOS and RAA ... SA NOS may all have been names of the Etruscans. ... the mind of the one who overcomes in the ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Magdalenian words and compounds 2006/7
    ... SA TYR NOS --- mind of the one who overcomes ... a river having water (not just ... (Nordic god of justice and war), ... a ruler who overcomes such a river (overcomer ...
    (sci.lang)
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