Orodes is the Latinized form of a male given name of Middle Iranian origin popularized by Parthians. In Greek it is recorded as Orōdēs (Ὀρώδης), Hērōdēs (Ἡρώδης), Hurōdēs (Ὑρώδης,[1] in Latin: Hyrōdēs), and once as Ouorōdēs (Οὐορώδην).[2] It is recorded in Shapur I's trilingual inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht as Greek (§67) Ouorōd (Οὐορωδ), Middle Persian (§35) wyrwd (𐭥𐭩𐭥𐭥𐭣 Wērōy,[1] Wīroy,[3] Wirōy[4]) and Parthian (§28) wrwd (𐭅𐭓𐭅𐭃 Wērōd,[1] Urūd[3]). The older form is probably Wērōd, supposedly developed into a regional Werōd, and later Worōd.[5] The Middle Persian is also recorded with the spelling wyrwy[1] and wylwd.[6] It is recorded in New Persian as Wērō (ویرو, "Viru"), name of a character in Vis o Ramin, a romance of Parthian origin.[5]

Orodes
Gendermale
Origin
Language(s)Middle Iranian
MeaningUncertain
Region of originGreater Iran
Other names
Variant form(s)
  • Ouorodes
  • Hyrodes
  • Worod
  • Worodes
  • Vorod
  • Vorodes
  • Urud
  • Viru
Derivative(s)Herod
DerivedUncertain

The name is recorded as wrwd in Syriac and Aramaic texts from Egypt (spelled wrd instead), Elymais, Palmyra, Hatra, Dura-Europos, and possibly Assur. The Parthian name is also attested in Late Babylonian (mú-ru-da-a).[2]

The etymology of the word is disputed.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Asia Major. Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica. 1952. p. 178.
  2. ^ a b c Marcato, Enrico (2018). Personal Names in the Aramaic Inscriptions of Hatra. Edizioni Ca' Foscari - Digital Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-88-6969-231-4.
  3. ^ a b Yarshater, Ehsan (1983). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-521-20092-9.
  4. ^ East and West. Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente. 1981. p. 148.
  5. ^ a b al-Rayḥānī, ʿAlī b ʿUbayda (2006). Zakeri, Mohsen (ed.). Persian Wisdom in Arabic Garb (2 vols): ʿAlī b. ʿUbayda al-Rayḥānī (D. 219/834) and his Jawāhir al-kilam wa-farāʾid al-ḥikam. BRILL. p. 147. ISBN 978-90-474-1875-7.
  6. ^ Gyselen, Rika (2007). Sasanian Seals and Sealings in the A. Saeedi Collection. Peeters Publishers. p. 118. ISBN 978-90-429-1268-7.