Onachar from Apahida (> Onacharus < Aunacharus)

Abstract

The first Germanic princely grave in Apahida (RO, Cluj County), dated to the second half of the 5th century based on the chronology of the objects placed near the skeleton, was discovered in 1889. Among the objects there were two gold finger rings, a namering and a crossring. On the namering a Latin cross and a male personal name were engraved. The crossring contains four engraved little Latin crosses. Taking into account the archaeological context, the possible Germanic name on the namering was first read OMHAR|VS, then OM^AHAR|VS (C. H. Opreanu, M. Schmauder), and later also OM^AHAR|VG (N. Gudea). The ending is certainly the Latin ‑VS and not ‑VG, nor the V G abreviation (C. H. Opreanu). The original name without the ‑us ending is a hapax and is uninterpretable. Among the Germanic names the OM beginning is unknown. But the M^A like ligature (nexus) is readable as N^A as well, which means that the reading of the name could be ON^AHAR too. The form ONAHAR contains a regular AU > O changing (W. Haubrichs as well), and the H represent the CH voice of the Germanic leanguages. The original form of this name sounds Aunachar, with the Latin ending Aunacharus, which appears in the Aunacharius and Aunarius forms as well. On the name ring the name was engraved phonetically, taking into account the pronunciation, that sounds Onachar, i.e. Onacharus [=On^a(c)har|us]. The existing name along with the similar names are known from the western Germanic area of the age. Considering the deposited objects and the name, Onachar could have been a western Germanic fugitive regulus, who was accepted by the local Gepid chief of that period, together with his escort.