On the Etymology of the Avestan Personal Name pourušaspa-

Abstract

This article discusses the formation and meaning of the Avestan personal name of Zarathuštra’s father, pourušaspa-. Taking side with the current scholarly view on the etymology and meaning of the word, i.e., *pourušāspa- → pourušaspa- ‘one who has grey horses’, it is argued here that the shortening of the vowel can be explained by an analogical model in Wištāsp Yašt 1.2, where pourušaspa- m. is described as pouru.aspa- ‘having many horses’. The article also challenges the view that Wištāsp Yašt 1.2 is a recent text.