To: B-Hebrew Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: B-Hebrew Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [b-hebrew] Marathon
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 19:19:29 -0400
We have mentioned here before that the name of the Greek goddess
אתנה Athena
is possibly of a Semitic origin, being but a slight variation on
Adena, corresponding
to the biblical names DAN and DINAH, from the root אדן ADN, as in
אדון העולם
ADON HA-OLAM, the master of the universe.
This morning, a man I know, confided to me that he thinks the place
name Marathon
(from which we have the Boston Marathon) is also of Semitic origin,
to wit: מר-אתון MAR-ATHON, there having been in this location of
old possibly
a temple to this MAR (recall מרדכי MARDKEI = MAR-AD-XAY).
I thought that marathon is kind of a kraut, but is there possibly
some truth in what this inventive philologue is saying?