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HelpRe: Sibel
in reply to a message by Frollein Gladys
My theory on Sibel is that the "goddess" mentioned might have been Cybele - the view of her by the ancient Anatolians was probably different from how the Greeks portrayed her.
If that's the case, then it shows the fact that Turkey borrows a lot of its names from other languages - mostly Arabic and Persian, but sometimes other sources (the Turkish name Defne is indeed borrowed from the Greek Daphne).
Sometimes names of pre-Christian/pre-Islamic deities are still used. For example, I heard the name Ninsun on a modern Assyrian Christian. Ninsun was the name of a Mesopotamian goddess - she was the mother of Gilgamesh. Names may be still considered part of a culture even after conversion to Christianity or Islam.
If that's the case, then it shows the fact that Turkey borrows a lot of its names from other languages - mostly Arabic and Persian, but sometimes other sources (the Turkish name Defne is indeed borrowed from the Greek Daphne).
Sometimes names of pre-Christian/pre-Islamic deities are still used. For example, I heard the name Ninsun on a modern Assyrian Christian. Ninsun was the name of a Mesopotamian goddess - she was the mother of Gilgamesh. Names may be still considered part of a culture even after conversion to Christianity or Islam.
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Would you believe me if I told you that I actually was thinking Cybele might be the goddess in question? ;-)
Unfortunately, the book didn't give any further information and as I'm far from being an expert on Turkish names, I figured for once I'd rather not stick my neck out and mention Cybele.
I'm still trying to find out if the Turkish Suzan really is derived from a Persian word for "fiery; ardent; burning". You don't happen to have any information on that name by any chance?
Unfortunately, the book didn't give any further information and as I'm far from being an expert on Turkish names, I figured for once I'd rather not stick my neck out and mention Cybele.
I'm still trying to find out if the Turkish Suzan really is derived from a Persian word for "fiery; ardent; burning". You don't happen to have any information on that name by any chance?
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