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Journal of Semitic Studies 2003 48(2):259-285; doi:10.1093/jss/48.2.259
© 2003 by University of Manchester
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THE RELATIVITY OF GEOGRAPHIC TERMS A RE-INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM OF UPPER AND LOWER ARAM

David Talshir

Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

In different languages, or dialects of the same language spoken in different regions, words originally meaning ‘above/upper’ as opposed to ‘below/lower’ serve as terms for different cardinal directions, depending on the topographical character of the region (highland versus lowland). Thus, in the Akkadian of Nuzi elenu (literally ‘above’) indicates ‘East’, while in the Aramaic of the Mandaeans mulia ‘upper’ means ‘North’. Considering the topography of Egypt and Syria and the broad context in which the terms occur, two conclusions follow: (1) In Egyptian Aramaic 'lyh (literally ‘upper’) indicates ‘South’, and th&05B4;tyh (literally ‘lower’) indicates ‘North’. (2) ‘ly ’rm = {alpha}&05F4;{nu}{omega} {Sigma}{nu}{rho}í{alpha} = Southern Syria (Lebanon Mountains), and th&05B4;t 'rm = {kappa}{alpha}&05F3;{tau}{omega} {Sigma}{nu}{rho}í{alpha} = Northern Syria ('ans&05B4;ariya and Antioch).


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