Editing Indo-Aryan languages (section)

==== Mitanni-Aryan hypothesis ====
{{main|Indo-Aryan superstrate in Mitanni}}

Some theonyms, proper names, and other terminology of the Late [[Bronze Age]] [[Mitanni]] civilisation of [[Upper Mesopotamia]] exhibit an Indo-Aryan superstrate. While what few written records left by the Mittani are either in [[Hurrian language|Hurrian]] (which appears to have been the predominant language of their kingdom) or [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] (the main [[diplomatic language]] of the Late Bronze Age Near East), these apparently Indo-Aryan names suggest that an Indo-Aryan elite imposed itself over the [[Hurrians]] in the course of the [[Indo-Aryan migration|Indo-Aryan expansion]]. If these traces are Indo-Aryan, they would be the earliest known direct evidence of Indo-Aryan, and would increase the precision in dating the split between the Indo-Aryan and Iranian languages (as the texts in which the apparent Indicisms occur can be dated with some accuracy).

In a treaty between the [[Hittites]] and the Mitanni, the deities [[Mitra]], [[Varuna]], [[Indra]], and the [[Ashvins]] ([[Nasatya]]) are invoked. [[Kikkuli]]'s horse training text includes technical terms such as ''aika'' (cf. Sanskrit ''eka'', "one"), ''tera'' (''tri'', "three"), ''panza'' (''panca'', "five"), ''satta'' (''sapta'', seven), ''na'' (''nava'', "nine"), ''vartana'' (''vartana'', "turn", round in the horse race). The numeral ''aika'' "one" is of particular importance because it places the superstrate in the vicinity of Indo-Aryan proper as opposed to Indo-Iranian in general or early Iranian (which has ''aiva'').<ref>Paul Thieme, The 'Aryan' Gods of the Mitanni Treaties. JAOS 80, 1960, 301–17</ref> Another text has ''babru'' (''babhru'', "brown"), ''parita'' (''palita'', "grey"), and {{transliteration|mis|pinkara}} (''pingala'', "red"). Their chief festival was the celebration of the [[solstice]] (''vishuva'') which was common in most cultures in the ancient world. The Mitanni warriors were called ''marya'', the term for "warrior" in [[Sanskrit]] as well; note ''mišta-nnu'' (= ''miẓḍha'', ≈ Sanskrit ''mīḍha'') "payment (for catching a fugitive)" (M. Mayrhofer, ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen'', Heidelberg, 1986–2000; Vol. II:358).

Sanskritic interpretations of Mitanni royal names render [[Artashumara]] (''artaššumara'') as ''Ṛtasmara'' "who thinks of [[Ṛta]]" (Mayrhofer II 780), Biridashva (''biridašṷa, biriiašṷ''a) as ''Prītāśva'' "whose horse is dear" (Mayrhofer II 182), Priyamazda (''priiamazda'') as ''Priyamedha'' "whose wisdom is dear" (Mayrhofer II 189, II378), Citrarata as ''Citraratha'' "whose chariot is shining" (Mayrhofer I 553), Indaruda/Endaruta as ''Indrota'' "helped by [[Indra]]" (Mayrhofer I 134), Shativaza (''šattiṷaza'') as ''Sātivāja'' "winning the race price" (Mayrhofer II 540, 696), Šubandhu as ''Subandhu'' "having good relatives" (a name in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], Mayrhofer II 209, 735), Tushratta (''tṷišeratta, tušratta'', etc.) as *tṷaiašaratha, Vedic [[Tvastar]] "whose chariot is vehement" (Mayrhofer, Etym. Wb., I 686, I 736).