Tuesday, August 13, 2013

KARTVELIAN NAMES IN ANCIENT UKRAINE

In ancient Greek colony of Olvia (near Ukrainian Mikolaiv) there are many marmor inscriptions, mostly dedications to Gods. Among them there are these two:

Πουρφακης Σωμαχου – Pourfakes Somahov
Ραοδμηος Κολχου – Raodmeos Kolhov

Raodmeos Kolhov is remarkable for witnessing a presence of a Georgian from Kolheti. But Pourfakes Somahov is much more interesting a case.

The word 'Somah' does not exist in Greek dictionaries. Bit it does in Kartvelian ones, where it means 'Armenian' (სომეხი [somehi]).

The same inscription enlists another person - Σωμαχος Σαναγου (Somahos Sanagov). If we assume that Somahos and Somahov indeed relate to Armenians, then we can check it via Sanagov: Sanagian is a popular Armenian surname, which is present in Google 3500 times.

So, there are no reasons for doubts: Pourfakes Somahov and Somahos Sanagov were Armenians who lived in ancient Ukraine, and who were called by the local Greeks - attention! - with a Kartvelian word of 'Somehi'.


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