On evidence of ranked status in Indo-European: PIE *wik-pot-i-

Abstract

The following investigation will attempt to demonstrate that PIE *wik-pot-i- was a term used to mark the status of founding ancestor, a sociocentric role, and hence, a highly coveted honor in the Indo- European cultural tradition. This status distinction suggests bases of social stratification and is, therefore, indicative of a particular sociopolitical phase.

Support for this thesis will be adduced from literary, archaeological and linguistic data.