The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.118

c7.s2.118

² Mr. E. Herzfeld has suggested an altogether different interpretation (The Aryan Myth of naphta, II, World Congress of Petrol, Paris, 1937. Vol. IV, Hist. & Arch. of Petrol, session of 14 June 1937, p. 21-23). In his opinion, even the name of naphtha comes from napāt. Moreover and chiefly, in the Yašt, XIX, the fire and Azi Dahaka wish to seize the akhrata khvarnah but it is Apam Napāt who succeeds in getting hold of him. From this Mr. Herzfeld concludes that his akharta khvarnah is the very essence of Apam Napāt; here he understands akharta khvarnah as signifying “flame which does not require nourishment” and he thinks that this designation applies to naphtha. In this way the myth of Apam Napāt becomes a myth of naphtha. It is difficult to agree with this thesis. Even by admitting that the akharta khvarnah is the “flame which requires no nourishment”, it is not possible to recognise therein the naphtha which is simply a combustible liquid.