*γδασα-

The Pisidian personal name Γδασα- attested as gen. sg. Γδασας (N 7). Starke 1987a:258 n. 58 suggests an etymological equation of this name with Lyc. xddaza- c. ‘slave’. Simon 2017a:31, 39 rejects this etymology arguing that Lyc. -z- (< *-ti̯-) should be reflected in Pisidian as -ζ-, adducing Pis. gen. sg. Ουρζες, which he equates with CLuw urazza-. Instead, Simon suggests that Pis. *γδασα- reflects a Luwic genitival adjective formation, i.e. *ḫantassa/i-. While his proposal is entirely fine on the formal side, the whole argumentation must be considered tentative. Etymologizing personal names is not a reliable business, since we are never able to verify the semantics of the names in question. Furthermore, it becomes even more speculative, if one must reconstruct as sources formations that are not directly attested. In the end, no decision can be made here and the etymology of *γδασα- should remain open until further evidence emerges.

[D.S.]

For the lemma head PAnat. *Hant-.