Orodes (given name)

Orodes is the Latinized form of a male given name of Middle Iranian origin popularized by Parthians. In Greek it is recorded as Orōdēs (Ὀρώδης), Hērōdēs (Ἡρώδης), Hurōdēs (Ὑρώδης,^[1] in Latin: Hyrōdēs), and once as Ouorōdēs (Οὐορώδην).^[2] It is recorded in Shapur I's trilingual inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht as Greek (§67) Ouorōd (Οὐορωδ), Middle Persian (§35) wyrwd (𐭥𐭩𐭥𐭥𐭣 Wērōy,^[1] Wīroy,^[3] Wirōy^[4]) and Parthian (§28) wrwd (𐭅𐭓𐭅𐭃 Wērōd,^[1] Urūd^[3]). The older form is probably Wērōd, supposedly developed into a regional Werōd, and later Worōd.^[5] The Middle Persian is also recorded with the spelling wyrwy^[1] and wylwd.^[6] It is recorded in New Persian as Wērō (ویرو, "Viru"), name of a character in Vis o Ramin, a romance of Parthian origin.^[5]

Orodes

Gender	male
Origin
Language(s)	Middle Iranian
Meaning	Uncertain
Region of origin	Greater Iran
Other names
Variant form(s)	Ouorodes Hyrodes Worod Worodes Vorod Vorodes Urud Viru
Derivative(s)	Herod
Derived	Uncertain

The name is recorded as wrwd in Syriac and Aramaic texts from Egypt (spelled wrd instead), Elymais, Palmyra, Hatra, Dura-Europos, and possibly Assur. The Parthian name is also attested in Late Babylonian (^mú-ru-da-a).^[2]

The etymology of the word is disputed.^[2]

See also

• Herod
• Orodes, list of people bearing the name

References

1. Asia Major. Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica. 1952. p. 178.
2. Marcato, Enrico (2018). Personal Names in the Aramaic Inscriptions of Hatra. Edizioni Ca' Foscari - Digital Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-88-6969-231-4.
3. Yarshater, Ehsan (1983). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-521-20092-9.
4. East and West. Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente. 1981. p. 148.
5. al-Rayḥānī, ʿAlī b ʿUbayda (2006). Zakeri, Mohsen (ed.). Persian Wisdom in Arabic Garb (2 vols): ʿAlī b. ʿUbayda al-Rayḥānī (D. 219/834) and his Jawāhir al-kilam wa-farāʾid al-ḥikam. BRILL. p. 147. ISBN 978-90-474-1875-7.
6. Gyselen, Rika (2007). Sasanian Seals and Sealings in the A. Saeedi Collection. Peeters Publishers. p. 118. ISBN 978-90-429-1268-7.