Auka ir aukuras. Žodžių kilme bei semantine motyvacija
Lithuanian “auka” and “aukuras”: Origin and Semantic Motivation

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the Lithuanian terms for sacrifice and altar, auka and aukuras. After a statement of the problem and a survey of research, the author argues for a connection between auka and aukuoti ‘lift up, sway’ on the basis of historical data on ancient Lithuanian religion and of typological evidence (the practice of lifting up offerings). The second word, aukuras ‘altar’, also shown by historical sources to be genuine, could be explained (taking into account its parallel form ) as containing the same root auk-, with -ura- and -ara- as parallel suffixes used to derive nomina instruments.

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