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Help[Facts] Gratuitous Nanaea Pic
The Goddess Nanaea (or, in its Greek form, Nanaia) appeared on a two Drachma coin issued by Kanishka I (circa 115 - 140 AD)of the Kushan Empire: ehttp://www.grifterrec.com/coins/kushan/i_kush_3071_r.jpg
The reverse side portrays a figure (probably Poseidon) holding a trident:
http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/kushan/i_kush_3071_o.jpg
The reverse side portrays a figure (probably Poseidon) holding a trident:
http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/kushan/i_kush_3071_o.jpg
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Proposed etymology of Nanaea/Nanaia
According to http://homepages.luc.edu/~cwinter/rel2.htm, "...the goddess Neith or Athene was known by many names. Some names related to Athene include Anaitis, Nanaia > Tanit of the Phoenicians; Nama in Albania; and the Sumero-Dravidian Ninni-Istar "the wild cow"..."
I would hate to accept that Nanaea/Nanaia means "wild cow". I propose that Nanaia may be derived from the Goddess Athena => Athenaia ( "of Athena") => Nanaia. Actually the name Athena remains a quite polpular female name in contemporary Greece, and the most frequent diminutive of Athena up to these days is ...you guessed it, Nana :)
According to http://homepages.luc.edu/~cwinter/rel2.htm, "...the goddess Neith or Athene was known by many names. Some names related to Athene include Anaitis, Nanaia > Tanit of the Phoenicians; Nama in Albania; and the Sumero-Dravidian Ninni-Istar "the wild cow"..."
I would hate to accept that Nanaea/Nanaia means "wild cow". I propose that Nanaia may be derived from the Goddess Athena => Athenaia ( "of Athena") => Nanaia. Actually the name Athena remains a quite polpular female name in contemporary Greece, and the most frequent diminutive of Athena up to these days is ...you guessed it, Nana :)
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Hey! That's ME! :)
I don't normally post from work, but I'm breaking my rule coz this made my day! I can even see the name "Nanaia" written on the coin! I never thought I'd ever see an actual representation of my namesake, but there she is! Too cool! :)
Thanks, P.L.! Hey, which museum has this coin on display, do you know? (Now I only need to get in touch with Nya Nordoff-Hall... )
-- Nanaea (a.k.a. Nanaia)
I don't normally post from work, but I'm breaking my rule coz this made my day! I can even see the name "Nanaia" written on the coin! I never thought I'd ever see an actual representation of my namesake, but there she is! Too cool! :)
Thanks, P.L.! Hey, which museum has this coin on display, do you know? (Now I only need to get in touch with Nya Nordoff-Hall... )
-- Nanaea (a.k.a. Nanaia)
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