In the runic alphabet of the ancient Norsemen *laguz “lake,” is the rune of “psyche, spirit, soul, vast bodies of water, the rune of unfolding, revelation.”
*laguz is a cognate of Gothic *lagus, Old Norse lǫgr, Old English lagu A Norwegian rune poem states: Lögr er fællr ór fjalle foss//
en gull ero nosser.
“A waterfall is a river that falls from a mountain side// but ornaments are of gold.”
In the Arthurian legends, “The Lady of the Lake” is best known for her presentation to King Arthur of the magical sword Excalibur.
Merlin “the Druid Wiseman” met the Lady of the lake at the Fountain of Barenton, and fallen so deeply in love with her that he agreed to teach her all his mystical powers.
The lady of the Lake became Merlin’s scribe, who recorded his prophecies. Over the years, the Lady of the Lake became so powerful that her magical skills outshone even Merlin, and she imprisoned him in Glass Tower. The Lady of the Lake was eventually obliged to reclaim Excalibur when Arthur was fatally wounded, and Excalibur was hurled back to misty waters. “Lady of the Lake” was later one of the three Queens who escorted Arthur to AVALON “the isle of eternal youth.”
It is believed that the Arthurian legends show a good deal of Sarmatian and Alan (Ancient Indo Iranian) elements, and there exists some interesting parallels to the ancient Zoroastrian account of the last eschatological powerful lords of time Saôšiiánts.
In the eschatological literature and mythology of ancient Zoroastrianism “the eternal lake” Hámûn is the rising place of the Victorious Saôšiiánts “the powerful lords/giants of ages, time.”
In Yašt 19.92 and in Vi.dæv.dāt 19.5 there are references to the birth of the Saôšiiánt- astvaṱ.ərəta from misty waters of this eternal lake.
Saôšiiánts stems from the verbal root √sü “to swell with power, strength and prosperity.” The reconstructed Indo European root is *keuh “swell with power.” Welsh cawr “Giant”, Lithuanian šaūnas “robust, strong,” Hittite kunna “right powerful hand” and Old Norse hūnn “young, strong” are cognates with Saôšiiánt.
In Avestan Saôšiiánt corresponds to the term yavaæšü– “ever youthful/thriving.” Victorious Saôšiiánt by name he is called because he will swell with life force/power (sávaiiát̰) all the material existence.”
Lakes or “Vast body of Waters” are called zraiia in the Avestan. Sanskrit jráyas “vast expanse” is a cognate. Persian daryá “sea, vast body of water” is derived from Avestan zraiia.
In addition to the sacred lake Hámûn, During Sassanid times, Lake Čēčast enjoyed a great reputation for sanctity, particularly because Ādur Gušnasp, “the Imperial Victorious fire” stood on its shore.
In the Avestan sources few legends are linked with Lake Čēčast. Warrior Priest Kávi Haô-srava (Kay Ḵosrow) was said to have offered a to the “unblemished, pure lady of lakes/waters” Arədvī Sūra Anāhitā beside this lake.
In conclusion, I shall add that the most important lakes/seas in the early history of the ancient Indo Europeans were: Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea and the Baltic Sea. The first 3 definitely fell into the central domain of the ancient Indo Iranians, and are associated with ancient Zoroastrian lore and sacred literature. The Baltic Sea clearly falls into the domain of the ancient Balts and Slavs. Yet, especially close relations found to exist between ancient Indo Iranians and Balto Slavonic tribes. Since the Balts and Slavs did not move far from the earliest recorded positions of the ancient Indo Europeans in the Pontic Caspian realms.
ardeshir
Special thanks to My friend Didier Calin for his notes on Rune *laguz
