Non-Iranian Origin of the Eastern-Slavonic God <em>Xŭrsŭ/Xors</em><br>Neiranskoe proishoždenie vostočnoslavjanskogo boga <em>Hrsa/Horsa</em></br>

Authors

  • Constantine L. Borissoff Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication, Birkbeck College, University of London, 26 Russell Square London WC1B 5DQ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/sms.v17i0.1491

Keywords:

Slavonic mythology, Slavic paganism, Xors, Hors, Vladimir’s pantheon, Dionysus, fertility cult

Abstract

The paper examines the traditional explanation of the Eastern-Slavonic deity Xors as an Iranian loan from the Persian xwaršēδ/xoršid ‘sun’ and advances an alternative etymology via the Indo-Aryan root hṛṣ-, Indo-European *g̑hers- and its cognates in other Indo-European languages. Based on the linguistic and mythological comparative analysis Xors is interpreted not as an abstract ‘solar god’ but as a ‘sun fertility hero’ viewed as the development of the ancient archetype of the ‘dying and resurrecting god’ comparable in role to Dionysus. The paper closes with a brief outline of some new venues for research following out of the proposed reinterpretation of Xors.

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Published

2014-10-13

How to Cite

Borissoff, C. L. (2014). Non-Iranian Origin of the Eastern-Slavonic God <em>Xŭrsŭ/Xors</em><br>Neiranskoe proishoždenie vostočnoslavjanskogo boga <em>Hrsa/Horsa</em></br>. Studia Mythologica Slavica, 17, 9–36. https://doi.org/10.3986/sms.v17i0.1491

Issue

Vol. 17 (2014)

Section

SLOVANSKA MITOLOGIJA – VIRI IN REKONSTRUKCIJE / SLAVIC MYTHOLOGY – SOURCES AND RECONSTRUCTIONS

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