βάνδα

Stephan of Byzantium claims its existence while (folk-)etymologizing the Carian toponym Ἀλάβανδα (s.v, cf. Jablonski 1809:95; de Lagarde 1866a:269; Dorsi 1979a:29; Zgusta 1984a:56; Adiego 1993b:28, Adiego 2007a:455). Note that his probably unsuccessful (folk-)etymologizing of the toponym does not imply that the Carian words he used are non-existent (Brandenstein 1936a:33, 35; Dorsi 1979a:34; Adiego 2007a:11f.).

[Zs.S.]

nom. sg.

βάνδα

For the attestation see under Transmission.

[Zs.S.]

The meaning given by Stephan of Byzantium is generally accepted, as there is no reason to doubt it (Jablonski 1809:96; de Lagarde 1866a:269; Sayce 1893a:117; Hirt 1907a:575; Brandenstein 1935a:col. 142; Dorsi 1979a; Zgusta 1984a:56; Adiego 1993b:40–44, Adiego 2007a:8, 11f.; but see the scepticism of O. Masson 1973a:190).

[Zs.S.]

de Lagarde 1866a:269 compared it with Persian band in “dēwband ‘Dämonenbändiger” and Kretschmer 1896a:376f. considers this comparison and a derivation from PIE *b^hend^h- ‘to bind’ in general as “allenfalls denkbar”, despite the semantic distance (Pauli 1886a:58 saw an Iranian loanword in it). Setting aside the semantic problem, this derivation is not possible, since the Carian reflex should show an initial *p-. Sayce 1893a:117 entertained the possibility that the stem would be ba- ‘to conquest’ or something similar if -nda is a suffix.

Considering, however, that at the time of Stephan of Byzantium ‹β› rendered in fact /w/, the word could have had the shape /wanda/ as well (the toponym probably had originally /b/, since it is attested already at the time of Herodotus [cf. Zgusta 1984a:56], but for Stephan of Byzantium its pronunciation could have been both /Alabanda/ and /Alawanda/). In this case, a derivation from PIE *wen- ‘überwältigen, gewinnen’ (LIV²:680f.) with the suffix -to- as a verbal noun seems straightforward. Due to the currently very limited understanding of Carian historical phonology a more precise description of its historical morphology is not possible.

[Zs.S.]