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Ares the Ripper: from Stang's Law to long-diphthong roots
Journal
Indogermanische Forschungen
Volume
119
Number
1
Pages / Article-Number
207-225
Abstract
In response to a recent derivation of the Greek theonym 'A rho eta c from a root (star)h(2)reh(1)-, the present paper highlights some problems arising from this theory, notably the need to postulate an inversion of (the effects of) Stang's Law in order to account for the well-attested Aeolic name variant "A rho epsilon nu c. These difficulties disappear if the theonym is taken to instantiate Stang's Law itself and if an original root-noun nom. (star)h(2)reu-s and corresponding acc. (star)h(2)reu-m > (star)h(2)rem are posited, involving the root attested in Lat. ruere, Ved. rav-, etc. Independent support for this view comes from the Old Latin Carmen Arvale, where the Roman war god Mars is addressed with the phrase ne uelue rue(m), The hitherto obscure acc. rue(m) surfacing here must be related to the Homeric acc. alpha rho eta nu 'destruction' and reflect an analogical transformation of Proto-Italic acc. (star)(h(2))rem. More speculatively, it is asked if the root (star)h(2)reu(H)- thus identified could not ultimately also be connected with (star)h(2)erh(3)- 'to plough', via Schwebeablaut and some phonological and morphological effects of building PIE u-presents and i-presents.
