H₂weh₁yú

H₂weh₁-yú is the reconstructed name of the god of the wind in Proto-Indo-European mythology. Such a deity is attested in most traditions. The root *h₂weh₁ ("to blow") is at the origin of the two words for the wind: *H₂weh₁-yú- and *H₂w(e)h₁-nt-.[1][2] The deity is indeed often depicted as a couple in the Indo-Iranian tradition. Vayu-Vāta is a dual divinity in the Avesta, Vāta being associated with the stormy winds and described as coming from everywhere ("from below, from above, from in front, from behind"). Similarly, the Vedic Vāyu, the lord of the winds, is connected in the Vedas with Indra—the king of Svarga Loka (also called Indraloka)—while the other deity Vāta represents a more violent sort of wind and is instead associated with Parjanya—the god of rain and thunder.[2] Other cognates include Hitt. huwant-, Lith. vėjas, Toch. B yente, Lat. uentus, Ger. *windaz, or Welsh gwynt.[2] The Slavic Viy is another possible cognate[3]

H₂weh₁-yú
Vayu, Vedic god of the wind, shown upon his antelope vahana.
Equivalents
Greek equivalentAnemoi
Roman equivalentVenti
Hinduism equivalentVayu
Zoroastrian equivalentVayu-Vata
Baltic equivalentVėjas

He is hypothesized to have been linked to life and death through adding and taking breath from people.[3]

Etymology

The name H₂weh₁-yú is derived from the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root *h₂weh₁-, meaning "to blow" or "to breathe".[1].[2] The suffix *-yú is a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European suffix used to form personal names[lower-alpha 1]. Therefore, H₂weh₁-yú can be translated as "the one who blows/breathes".

See Also

Notes
  1. Or agentic suffixes, need more research to confirm which one

References
  1. Mallory & Adams 2006, p. 129.
  2. West 2007, p. 263–264.
  3. https://journal.fi/store/article/view/43990/11044

Sources
  • Mallory, James P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (2006). The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-929668-2.
  • West, Martin L. (2007). Indo-European Poetry and Myth. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-928075-9.
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