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1/23
Once upon a time, more than 5,000 years ago, there lived a people in the Pontic steppe by the Ural, that spoke but didn't write. We don't know what their language sounded like but experts have reconstructed a working prototype.
1/23
Once upon a time, more than 5,000 years ago, there lived a people in the Pontic steppe by the Ural, that spoke but didn't write. We don't know what their language sounded like but experts have reconstructed a working prototype.
2/23
This prototype has a rather unremarkable name — Proto-Indo-European or PIE. If course, that's not the name its speakers gave their tongue. Like any of its modern descendants, this tongue too had a rich lexicon.
This thread is about one specific word from this lexicon.
This prototype has a rather unremarkable name — Proto-Indo-European or PIE. If course, that's not the name its speakers gave their tongue. Like any of its modern descendants, this tongue too had a rich lexicon.
This thread is about one specific word from this lexicon.
3/23
That word is *gʰer-. Yes, that's the spelling linguists have for the word; again, this is just a representation as the original speakers didn't have a script.
To make it simpler to pronounce, think of it as just /gher/, gh being similar to Hindi घ but deeper.
That word is *gʰer-. Yes, that's the spelling linguists have for the word; again, this is just a representation as the original speakers didn't have a script.
To make it simpler to pronounce, think of it as just /gher/, gh being similar to Hindi घ but deeper.
4/23
*gʰer- is a verb and one of its translations is "to rub." A derivative of this was *gʰrey- which meant to smear or to paint.
Volumes have been written on how we know this, so I won't bore you with the linguistics. The important thing is that the word most likely existed.
*gʰer- is a verb and one of its translations is "to rub." A derivative of this was *gʰrey- which meant to smear or to paint.
Volumes have been written on how we know this, so I won't bore you with the linguistics. The important thing is that the word most likely existed.
5/23
Languages evolve into new dialects and given enough time, new languages. And just as Latin evolved first into Vulgate and then Spanish, the PIE tongue evolved into a whole host of languages spoken in much of Europe and Asia today. But this was a long and slow process.
Languages evolve into new dialects and given enough time, new languages. And just as Latin evolved first into Vulgate and then Spanish, the PIE tongue evolved into a whole host of languages spoken in much of Europe and Asia today. But this was a long and slow process.
6/23
Depending on where these steppe nomads went, different dialects branches off the main PIE stem. One such branch was Sanskrit that developed when one group we now call the Indo-Aryans crossed the Hindu Kush into the Indian subcontinent.
Depending on where these steppe nomads went, different dialects branches off the main PIE stem. One such branch was Sanskrit that developed when one group we now call the Indo-Aryans crossed the Hindu Kush into the Indian subcontinent.
7/23
When Sanskrit developed its vocabulary, *gʰrey- entered its lexicon as a noun. While the PIE *gʰrey- was a verb meaning to smear, the noun derivative in Sanskrit became a word for the stuff used for this smearing.
We'll get to the word itself in a bit.
When Sanskrit developed its vocabulary, *gʰrey- entered its lexicon as a noun. While the PIE *gʰrey- was a verb meaning to smear, the noun derivative in Sanskrit became a word for the stuff used for this smearing.
We'll get to the word itself in a bit.
8/23
By the time the Indo-Aryans settled around the Ganges, they had already achieved a bunch of civilizational milestones. One of these was a fully developed script. Another was a fully ritualized religious system. Both of these achievements culminated in the Rigveda.
By the time the Indo-Aryans settled around the Ganges, they had already achieved a bunch of civilizational milestones. One of these was a fully developed script. Another was a fully ritualized religious system. Both of these achievements culminated in the Rigveda.
9/23
The Rigveda is the earliest Indo-Iranian output that we're aware of thus. This treatise, using over a thousand hymns, offers an array of rituals that form the cornerstone of Hindu traditions even today.
We're interested in one of these rituals.
The Rigveda is the earliest Indo-Iranian output that we're aware of thus. This treatise, using over a thousand hymns, offers an array of rituals that form the cornerstone of Hindu traditions even today.
We're interested in one of these rituals.
10/23
This ritual is a memory of the pre-Aryan verb, *gʰrey-. Do recall that it means to smear.
Smearing stuff on things, sometimes even people, for various purposes had been an integral part of the PIE heritage. The practice later showed up in the Vedas as abhiṣeka.
This ritual is a memory of the pre-Aryan verb, *gʰrey-. Do recall that it means to smear.
Smearing stuff on things, sometimes even people, for various purposes had been an integral part of the PIE heritage. The practice later showed up in the Vedas as abhiṣeka.
11/23
Abhiṣeka later became part of the Hindu custom of consecration. This involved smearing of the "stuff" on deities, kings, or holy relics in order to worship them. As the Indo-Aryans learned to milk cow and process that milk, clarified butter became that "stuff."
Abhiṣeka later became part of the Hindu custom of consecration. This involved smearing of the "stuff" on deities, kings, or holy relics in order to worship them. As the Indo-Aryans learned to milk cow and process that milk, clarified butter became that "stuff."
12/23
Since the pre-Aryan word for this activity was *gʰrey-, the word entered Sanskrit as the name of this new milk the Indo-Aryans used for this activity — घ्रित (ghṛta). A corruption of this word is still part of the Hindi lexicon as घी (ghee).
Since the pre-Aryan word for this activity was *gʰrey-, the word entered Sanskrit as the name of this new milk the Indo-Aryans used for this activity — घ्रित (ghṛta). A corruption of this word is still part of the Hindi lexicon as घी (ghee).
13/23
But Indo-Aryans aren't the only branch of the PIE people. They were nomadic and went in all directions. India was only one of them.
Another branch went into Persia and from there, into the rest of the Middle-East and further on to Eastern Europe.
But Indo-Aryans aren't the only branch of the PIE people. They were nomadic and went in all directions. India was only one of them.
Another branch went into Persia and from there, into the rest of the Middle-East and further on to Eastern Europe.
14/23
These groups carried with them the practice of anointing things or people with stuff. This stuff changed with time, but the practice remained a constant through every religious evolution.
By the turn of the common era, the practice was well entrenched in the Middle East.
These groups carried with them the practice of anointing things or people with stuff. This stuff changed with time, but the practice remained a constant through every religious evolution.
By the turn of the common era, the practice was well entrenched in the Middle East.
15/23
While the group in India developed Hinduism, the one in the Middle East had developed Judaism. And anointment with frankincense and holy oils became a central theme of its liturgy. These people spoke Hebrew and their word for the act was מָשַׁח (mashákh).
While the group in India developed Hinduism, the one in the Middle East had developed Judaism. And anointment with frankincense and holy oils became a central theme of its liturgy. These people spoke Hebrew and their word for the act was מָשַׁח (mashákh).
16/23
Now, mashákh sounds nothing like *gʰrey- and that's because Hebrew has nothing to do with the PIE family. The practice of anointment might have been a PIE borrowing via Persia, but the language evolved independently.
Now, mashákh sounds nothing like *gʰrey- and that's because Hebrew has nothing to do with the PIE family. The practice of anointment might have been a PIE borrowing via Persia, but the language evolved independently.
17/23
Hebrew, along with Arabic, is part of a linguistic subdivision called the Semitic. This subdivision itself belongs to the primary Semito-Hamitic language family. Just as Sanskrit, Greek, and Persian come from the PIE, Hebrew and Arabic come from a Proto-Afroasiatic tongue.
Hebrew, along with Arabic, is part of a linguistic subdivision called the Semitic. This subdivision itself belongs to the primary Semito-Hamitic language family. Just as Sanskrit, Greek, and Persian come from the PIE, Hebrew and Arabic come from a Proto-Afroasiatic tongue.
18/23
What this means is that Persian may look and sound like Arabic to untrained ears, it's actually closer to Sanskrit than it is to Arabic!
Anyway, coming back to the anointment, the word in Israel was mashákh, to anoint.
What this means is that Persian may look and sound like Arabic to untrained ears, it's actually closer to Sanskrit than it is to Arabic!
Anyway, coming back to the anointment, the word in Israel was mashákh, to anoint.
19/23
And the person who was thus anointed became מָשִׁיחַ (mašīaḥ). Of course, the more recognizable form today is messiah.
Eventually, the common noun mašīaḥ started referring to one very specific individual who was earlier prophecized to be the "King of Israel."
And the person who was thus anointed became מָשִׁיחַ (mašīaḥ). Of course, the more recognizable form today is messiah.
Eventually, the common noun mašīaḥ started referring to one very specific individual who was earlier prophecized to be the "King of Israel."
20/23
One group of the PIE people also entered Europe and developed the Greek tongue. The practice of ceremonial anointment entered the Greek culture as well. Along with the practice, came the verb. *gʰrey- entered Greek as χρῑ́ω (khrī́ō).
One group of the PIE people also entered Europe and developed the Greek tongue. The practice of ceremonial anointment entered the Greek culture as well. Along with the practice, came the verb. *gʰrey- entered Greek as χρῑ́ω (khrī́ō).
21/23
khrī́ō is the verb. The object, i.e. the anointed one, was χριστός (khrīstós). Eventually, the Greeks came in contact with the Hebrews and a lot of cultural cross-pollination followed. This also involved mutual admixing of religions and religious practices.
khrī́ō is the verb. The object, i.e. the anointed one, was χριστός (khrīstós). Eventually, the Greeks came in contact with the Hebrews and a lot of cultural cross-pollination followed. This also involved mutual admixing of religions and religious practices.
22/23
Remember how mašīaḥ went from a genetic term for any anointed one to one specific individual in Israel? The Greeks did the same with χριστός (khrīstós) and the name became Χριστός (Khristós).
This name later entered Latin and other European languages as Christ.
Remember how mašīaḥ went from a genetic term for any anointed one to one specific individual in Israel? The Greeks did the same with χριστός (khrīstós) and the name became Χριστός (Khristós).
This name later entered Latin and other European languages as Christ.
23/23
So that's the story of how Christ and clarified butter share a common linguistic heritage.
And no, the name has NOTHING whatsoever to do with Krishna.
Merry Christmas.
So that's the story of how Christ and clarified butter share a common linguistic heritage.
And no, the name has NOTHING whatsoever to do with Krishna.
Merry Christmas.
