†azzti-

Starke 1985a:249–253 interprets the hapax az-za-aš-ti-iš of KUB 35.133 ii 25’ as a noun azzti- ‘Speise’ (also Ünal 2016a:949 and similarly Meriggi 1957a:218f. [‘Essen’]); while other scholars identify it as a 2nd sg. pres. form of ad-/ād- ‘to eat’ (Morpurgo Davies 1980b:106 n. 24 [cautiously]; Hawkins 1980c:221 [but as preterite form]; CLL:39 and apud Oettinger 2004b:133; EDHIL:262 [with question mark]; no meaning in Otten 1953a:47 and Laroche 1959a:36; Bossert 1954a:102 lists both possibilities). Starke 1985a:250f. believes that the verbal interpretation can be excluded since this verbal ending is attested only in Hieroglyphic Luwian. This is, of course, a non sequitur, thus, and since both proposals are formally possible, the decisive factor is the meaning of the passage. The passage is as follows (KUB 35.133 ii 25’f., Starke 1985b:280): ^DU-an a-u̯a-za-aš-ti u̯a-at-ta-ne-i az-za-aš-ti u̯a-a-šu ú-ut-ti-iš u̯a-a-šu. According to Starke 1985a:249 with n. 5, Starke 1990a:465, 565, this passage means “(O, Wettergott …) Die Speise (ist) das Gut(e), der Trank (ist) das Gut(e)”, i.e. a substantivized form of the adjective ‘good’, either literally or “Besitz”. None of these cases provide a really meaningful passage. Although Starke 1985a:251, Starke 1990a:465 calls attention to the parallel phrase šu^?-u̯a-at-ra u̯a-a-šu in KBo 4.11 rev. 40 translated by him as ‘Die Fülle (ist) das Gut(e)’, this passage is otherwise completely obscure and thus his translation is not assured and cannot be used as an argument.

However, Morpurgo Davies 1980b:106 n. 24 cautiously translates the passage in question as follows: (oh, Storm God…) “you (sg.) will eat well, you will drink well” (similarly Hawkins 1980c:221, but in past tense). This makes more sense than Starke’s translation and thus this form should be classified as the 2nd sg. pres. form of ad-/ād- ‘to eat’ (see s.v.). For a detailed discussion of the meaning of this passage see s.v. Cuneiform Luwian ū- ‘to drink’.

[Zs.S.]

Last updated: 22 May 2020