The ‘House of Song’, the *‘House of Clay’, Arm. gerezman, and Caucaso-Albanica

Abstract This paper begins with an examination of the phrase /garah dmāna-/, most common designation for Paradise in Gathas, which traditional translation ‘House Song’ is upheld. Its dualistic opposite /drujah dmāna-/ Wrongness’ Hell leads to question why one doesn’t have expected *‘House Rightness’ instead Song’. The answer proceeds from etymologically unrelated Armenian gerezman ‘grave, tomb’, whose origin has been hitherto unknown, despite attempts toward its etymology. In view Indo-European grave (i.e., burial mound) as ‘the House Clay’, it then suggested that Arm. word a Median phrase, reconstructed * gṛda - zmani ‘*clay (* -) house -)’. phonic similarity this (/garah/ ‘song’s’ and /dmāna-/ ‘house’), referential contrast seen chief motivation Zarathushtra’s use ‘Paradise’. Then there ensues discussion archeological-historical contexts latter development. Next, phonologically systematic account offered becoming “Caucasian Albanian” garazman accord unnoted aspects historical vocalism. modern Udi derivative , i.e. gärämzä also accounted for. loanwords are divided into two main strata, first (Iranian loans indigenous words), including some forms antedating literacy, second stratum words, here called “Parthic”, vintage par Manichean Parthian. These “Parthic” their religious references, point Iranian group (after phase loanwords) influenced development Christianity among Albanians”, suggesting existence “Christian Parthian”.