En (deity)

En or Enji ([ɛɲi]) is the Illyrian god[1] of fire.[2] The name continues to be used in the Albanian language for Thursday (enjte).

History

According to Karl Treimer, Illyrians worshiped a fire god named *Enji, related to the Vedic fire god Agni.[2]

With the coming of Christianity En was demoted to demonic status.[1] The name En continues to be used in the Albanian language to refer to Thursday (Albanian: enjte, Tosk Albanian: enjtë, Gheg Albanian: êjte).[1][2]

Etymology

The Albanian name enjte continues Proto-Albanian *agni-, probably related to the archaic Indo-European word for 'fire' (PIE *h₁n̥gʷnis). The names of week days in Albanian are the translation of Latin names, so the word enjte translates the Latin word lovis diem, and enj- must be the Albanian equivalent of Roman Jupiter.[3]

See also

References

Sources

  • Lurker, Manfred (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons. Routledge, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-203-64351-8.
  • Orel, Vladimir (1998). Albanian etymological dictionary. Brill. ISBN 9004110240.
  • Tagliavini, Carlo (1963). Storia di parole pagane e cristiane attraverso i tempi. Morcelliana.


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