Saturday, August 10, 2013

BORISFEN

The old name of the Dnipro river - Borisfen - can also be interpreted from Kartvelian point of view.

First of all, the name is not likely to come from Βορέας since it's written differently in Greek - Βορυσθένης. Second, the Ukrainians traditionally pronounce θ as [f] - Borisfen.

As to the Kartvelian interpretation, it might be as follows: 

                                                               bori(s)+feni

ბორი [bori] is 'mist' (Chubinashvili) while the ფენი [feni] comes from ფენილი [fenili] (-li is suffix) and means 'pave', 'tile'. The overall suggestion looks like 'paved with mist'. The Dnipro is known as a very misty river (autumn, winter). Besides, in ancient times the famous Dnipro rapids should have had a constant water drops wrap around them.

                                        Dnipro. Photo of Kartvelian History & Language Research Center

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