Gli epiteti Λαφύστιος e Λαφρία e la radice *labh- ‘prendere, afferrare’

• Roberto Batisti ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Bologna

     University of Bologna

     Bolonia, Italia

     
• Localización: Glotta: zeitschrift für griechische und lateinische sprache..., ISSN 0017-1298, Nº. 98, 2022, págs. 3-32
• Idioma: italiano
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• Resumen

  • In this paper I review the Greek evidence for a root λαφ- ‘take’ going back to PIE *labʰ- or *lembʰ- (: Ved. ra(m)bh-/la(m)bh-). To the evidence already adduced by previous researchers (λάφῡρα ‘spoils’; ἀμφιλαφής ‘widespreading’; εἴληφα ‘I have taken’), I propose to add the verb λαφύσσω ‘devour’ and the divine epithet λαφύστιος ‘devourer’, which I derive from a lost agentive compound *labʰu-h1(e)d-(tā-) ‘greedy eater’. I furthermore propose that the etymologically obscure epithet Λάφριος, -ίᾱ is another derivative of the same root. Most of the dei-ties designated by these epithets – from Zeus Laphystios to Artemis Laphria – appear to have been receivers of bloody (even human) sacrifice, or otherwise connected with violence and rapacity. Lastly, I discuss potential comparative evidence for a root *labʰ- or *lembʰ- from other IE branches.