Ἀζανία

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Ancient Greek[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Possibly from Ζάν (Zán, Zeus)Doric + -ία (-ía).

Proper noun[edit]

Ἀζανία (Azaníaf (indeclinable)

  1. (historical) a subregion of Arcadia.

Etymology 2[edit]

Two possibilities: 1. Related to Somali san (nose), referring to the Horn of Africa; (Cushitic languages like Somali have been spoken there for many thousands of years). 2. Related to Arabic عَجَمِيّ (ʕajamiyy, foreign, barbarian). The Greeks likely remoulded whichever word to a familiar form (Etymology 1). Probably not related to Ζήγγισα.

Proper noun[edit]

Ἀζανία (Azaníaf (indeclinable)

  1. (historical) The region of East Africa as known by the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

References[edit]

"AZANIA, SOME ETYMOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS", John Hilton, Acta Classica, vol.35