Urtzi
Encyclopedia
Urtzi is a Basque
term that has no convincing explanation as yet. It either represents an old common noun for the sky, or is the name for a pre-Christian
sky deity.
The first main argument is that Basque has numerous calendaric and meteorological terms which contain forms of the root ortzi (with the variants urtz, ortz, orz and ost), for example:
This has led to a popular modern interpretation of Urtzi as a sky god. It should also be mentioned that the modern Basque word for sky, zeru, is a loanword from Latin
caelum and that the word urtzi or ortzi is not productive anymore.
The second argument is based on the 12th century account, the Codex Calixtinus
, of Aymeric Picaud
, a French pilgrim, who recorded a number of Basque words and expressions, saying about Urtzi: et Deus uocant Urcia ("and they name God as Urcia".) Since the remaining material Picaud recorded appears to be very accurate, this bears some weight.
However, there are no legends at all related to such a god and Picaud remains the only explicit reference to date. This had led to the alternative theory that this may have been a generic term for "sky" and that Picaud may have simply "pointed at the sky" looking for the word for God and been supplied the word for "sky". This explanation is to some degree supported by the unexpected absolutive case ending -a in Urcia, which neither in Proto-Basque or modern Basque appears on proper nouns. To date neither theory has been able to convince fully.
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
term that has no convincing explanation as yet. It either represents an old common noun for the sky, or is the name for a pre-Christian
Pre-Christian
Pre-Christian may mean:*before Christianization**historical polytheism *BC**Classical Antiquity**Iron Age...
sky deity.
The Urtzi controversy
The existence of a Basque mythological figure, Urtzi, has been questioned in numerous discussions. The argument for Urtzi being a Basque sky god is based on two main arguments.The first main argument is that Basque has numerous calendaric and meteorological terms which contain forms of the root ortzi (with the variants urtz, ortz, orz and ost), for example:
- ortzadar "rainbow" (ortzi + adar "horn")
- ortzi "sky, thunder"
- orzgorri "red sky" (ortzi + gorri "red")
- ostargi "daylight" (ortzi + 'argi "light")
- ostegun "Thursday" (ortzi + egun "day")
This has led to a popular modern interpretation of Urtzi as a sky god. It should also be mentioned that the modern Basque word for sky, zeru, is a loanword from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
caelum and that the word urtzi or ortzi is not productive anymore.
The second argument is based on the 12th century account, the Codex Calixtinus
Codex Calixtinus
The Codex Calixtinus is a 12th-century illuminated manuscript formerly attributed to Pope Callixtus II, though now believed to have been arranged by the French scholar Aymeric Picaud. The principal author is actually given as 'Scriptor I'....
, of Aymeric Picaud
Aymeric Picaud
Aymeric Picaud was a 12th century French scholar, monk and pilgrim from Parthenay-le-Vieux in Poitou. He is most widely known today as being the author of the Codex Calixtinus, an illuminated manuscript giving background information for pilgrims travelling the Way of St. James...
, a French pilgrim, who recorded a number of Basque words and expressions, saying about Urtzi: et Deus uocant Urcia ("and they name God as Urcia".) Since the remaining material Picaud recorded appears to be very accurate, this bears some weight.
However, there are no legends at all related to such a god and Picaud remains the only explicit reference to date. This had led to the alternative theory that this may have been a generic term for "sky" and that Picaud may have simply "pointed at the sky" looking for the word for God and been supplied the word for "sky". This explanation is to some degree supported by the unexpected absolutive case ending -a in Urcia, which neither in Proto-Basque or modern Basque appears on proper nouns. To date neither theory has been able to convince fully.
As a personal name
With the modern resurgent interest in Basque names, Urtzi has been used as a male given name:- Urtzi UrrutikoetxeaUrtzi UrrutikoetxeaUrtzi Urrutikoetxea is a Basque writer and journalist.-Life:He has worked for the Euskal Telebista , as well as in several publications in the Basque language, such as Euskaldunon Egunkaria, Berria, Gara, Jakin, Argia, Nora, Zazpi Haizetara and Bertsolari, among others...
, Basque writer.