Καλπε: The Etymology of the Oldest Place Names on the Iberian Peninsula Cover Image

Καλπε: этимология древнейшего топонима на пиренейском полуострове
Καλπε: The Etymology of the Oldest Place Names on the Iberian Peninsula

Author(s): Daniela Kamarincheva
Subject(s): Historical Geography, Theoretical Linguistics, Ancient World, Historical Linguistics
Published by: Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет
Keywords: Καλπε (Calpe); Pillars of Hercules; Greeks; Iberians; Phoenicians;

Summary/Abstract: The paper reviews the issue of the origin of toponym Καλπε (Calpe), which can be rightfully called one of the oldest place names on the Iberian Peninsula. For a long time, the etymology of Καλπε has troubled the minds of historians, geographers, and linguists. However, only a few of them seriously studied the origin of the place name. In spite of that, mainly Iberian and Greek versions of the origin of the toponym have been reviewed to study this question, thereby leaving aside other points of view. Based on the data of Ancient Greek and Roman sources in which it is written that the Phoenicians and Semitized Iberian tribes Bastetani or Baestuli lived around Καλπε, the conclusions have been made about their role and importance in the appearance of the place name. Furthermore, the work uses linguistic comparative data which testify the probability of Semitic origin of the toponym.

  • Issue Year: 158/2016
  • Issue No: 5
  • Page Range: 1246-1253
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Russian