E 0706          PYTHON

The word " python " is a loanword from Greek

H 0737         ן ת פ

Concept of root : big snake

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ן ת פ

peten

cobra

Related English words

python, from Greek

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ן ת פ

peten

cobra

p . t . n

Greek

πυθων

püthon

python

p . th . n

English

python

python

p . th . n

 

 

Proto-Semitic *PATAN --- *PÜTHON Greek

 

 

The "python" in Greek was a monster killed by Apollo, but we can presume that this word had some origin. That origin we see now in the similarity with the Hebrew word "peten" that stands for a dangerous snake. The different choice of vowels and the aspiration of the T into TH do not change this picture.

 

Also a different explanation has been given. "Pütho" should be an alternative name for the town of Delphi". Thus the famous "püthia" of the Delphi Oracle and also the monster "Püthon" received their name. With that any idea of common origin with the Hebrew snake "peten" would disappear.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic used already the root seen in Hebrew "*פ ת ן , P T N". It is there in Aramaic and Syriac "פ ת נ א , pitna (A), patna (S)". The Ugaritic root "B TH M" stood for "serpent, snake" and is a cognate, like Arabic "bathan". For our comparison we propose two vowels " A ", though that is uncertain.

     

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 21/11/2012 at 9.41.23