The Lulubi is the name of a country probably located in southern Kurdistan in Iran, first appearing in Sumerian texts. The only known word from the Lulubi language is ki-ú-ru-um = Akkadian ilu “god”, which has Proto-Indo-Aryan roots. The palatalized velar ki in Sanskrit is written as Ś and as S in Avestan. This word can be rewritten as Ś-ú-ru-um or S-ú-ru-um, and by removing the Akkadian suffix -um, it becomes Ś-ú-ru, derived from the Proto-Indo-Aryan Śū́ra, meaning “strong, powerful, hero, warrior” (EWAi 650). It compares to Sanskrit śūra and Avestan sūra, which share a common root with Ancient Greek κύριος (= kúrios) “lord, master” (IEW 592). Therefore, we can refer to the Proto-Indo-European k̑ū-ro-s “strong, hero” (IEW 592). In a broader sense, it can connote something powerful or strong, reflecting the divine authority and strength associated with gods or lords. In the Avesta, sūra is applied to the Yazatas as well. In fact, this Lulubi word is the centumized form of the word Śū́ra, which occasionally occurs in Iranian languages; for example, the Avestan sara “head” transforms into Farsi kalle. The language of the Iranian-descent Gutian people is a prominent example of this phonetic transformation. Additionally, in ancient Near Eastern languages, the vowels a, u, and i are changeable. Hence, we have the Sanskrit sūri “a lord, chief (also of gods)” (SED 1244b) and Kassite Šuri. The use of sūra in ancient names is not uncommon and rare: šurakka in Nuzi tablets, šunaššura “grown hero” the Iranian-descended king of Kizzuwatna, etc.
Dedicated to my esteemed professor, the late Dr. Derakhshani.
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