solutely identical approach
to the Persian form so closely as to be plainly mere variants, like
Theodoras and Theodosius, Adelbert and Ethelbert, Miriam, Mariam, and
Mariamne. Of this kind are Intaphres, another form of Intaphernes,
Artynes, another form of Artanes, Parmises, another form of Parmys, and
the like. A third class, neither identical with any known Persian names,
nor so nearly approaching to them as to be properly considered mere
variants, are made up of known Persian roots, and may be explained
on exactly the same principles as Persian names. Such are Ophernes,
Sitraphernes, Mitraphernes, Megabernes, Aspadas, Mazares, Tachmaspates,
Xathrites, Spitaces, Spitamas, Ehambacas, and others. In Ophernes,
Sitra-phernes, Mitra-phernes, and Mega-bernes, the second element
is manifestly the pharna or frana which is found in Arta-phernes and
Inta-phernes (Vida-frana), an active participial form from pri, to
protect. The initial element in O-phernes represents the Zend hu, Sans,
su, Greek ev, as the same letter does in O-manes, O-martes, etc. The
Sitra of Sitra-phernes has been explained as probably Ichshatra, "the
crown," which is similarly represented in the Safro-pates of Curtius, a
name standing to Sitra-phernes exactly as Arta-patas to Arta-phernes. In
Mega-bernes the first element is the well-known baga, "God," under
the form commonly preferred by the Greeks; and the name is exactly
equivalent to Curtius's Bagfo-phanes, which only differs from it by
taking the participle of pa, "to protect," instead of the participle
of pri, which has the same meaning. In Aspa-das it is easy to recognize
aspa, "horse" (a common root in Persian names,) e.g., Aspa-thines,
Aspa-mitras, Prex-aspes, and the like, followed by the same element
which terminates the name of Oromaz-des, and which means either
"knowing" or "giving." Ma-zares presents us with the root meh, "much" or
"great," which is found in the name of the ilf-aspii, or "Big Horses,"
a Persian tribe, followed by zara, "gold," which appears in Ctesias's
"Arto-awes," and perhaps also in Zoro-aster. In Tachmaspates, the
first element is takhma, "strong," a root found in the Persian names
Ar-tochmes and Tritan-taechmes, while the second is the frequently
used pati, "lord," which occurs as the initial element in Pak-zeithes,"
Pafa-ramphes, etc., and as the terminal in Pharna-jjates, Avio-peithes,
and the like. In Xathrites we have clearly khshatra (Zend khshathra),
"crown" or "ki