*zapól-

1. zappalālla
2. zappalalla/i-

This word is attested on the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated contextually to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE, and stylistically around 400 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.) as well as in the poetical inscription engraved on the lion sarcophagus of Antiphellos dated on stylistic grounds to the beginning of the 4th century BCE (Zahle 1979a:318, Mühlbauer 2007a:91).

[D.S.]

The grammatical assignment follows the one of Neumann 2007a:438.

[D.S.]

Shevoroshkin 2014a:231 points out rightly that the word zppli occurs in relation to a feast. At the beginning of the poem (TL 44c), a ritualistic sacrifice is made to appease the anger of the god Natri. This sacrifice includes among others sheep (pasba- ‘small livestock’) that are slaughtered for the gods. Afterwards, it is said that the Storm-god summons the gods for the zppli and the oath, which are performed by the Lycian king.

                sbirte me=zireima sabadi mrccdi=pe sebe pasbã natri slati xusttedi sebe xñtabu trqqiz=kke=pe me=de zppli xixbati qetbeleimis si=ke tesi uwedris erẽpliz sebe leli pinati masasi tulije<l>i (TL 44c.32-36)

‘The sbirte-priest mrccdi-s the zireima with sabadi and sacrifices to Natri the small livestock and the preparation by fire(?). ... The Storm-god, on the other hand, summons for the zppli and for this oath all invigorating deities and then he grants speech to the assembly of gods.’

Considering that the gods are gathered to eat the offered meats and to hear the king’s oath, so that they may discuss his military offenses and weigh them against his generous gifts, it is likely that the word zppli refers to the feast or to the act of animal sacrifice. Shevoroshkin 2014a:231 compares Lyc. B zppli with Luw. *zappal- pointing out that the various derivatives are attested in contexts of feasting (cf. Luw. zappalālla and for animal sacrifices see zappa-^(ti)), which brings evidence to the etymological comparison. Thus, Lyc. B zppli can be translated tentatively as ‘feast (?)’. Schürr 2016d:176 leaves the word zppli untranslated (likewise DLL:138). Gehrisch 2018a:82, 92 translates ´temple´ or a sacred place, in which religious rites are performed, which is not contextually supported and leaves unexplained its coordination with the word for ´oath´.

[D.S.]

The stem and gender of the noun zppli is unknown. Adducing comparative evidence with Luwian *zappal-, it is probable that zppli reflects an original stem comparable to Luwian neuter stems in *-al-. Due to the lack of data, it is unclear what the fate of these stems in Lycian is. It is possible that the stem was thematized to *zpple- n. or *zpple/i- c. (thus DLL:138), but this cannot be proven until further evidence becomes available.

[D.S.]