/kalmarattahid-/, (“CUBITUM”)ka+ra/i-mara/i-ta-hi-
‘protection(?), radiance(?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 1356
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/kalmarattahid-/, (“CUBITUM”)ka+ra/i-mara/i-ta-hi-
‘protection(?), radiance(?)’1.1.1Transmission
Attested once, this hapax legomenon can be found in an inscription from Karkamiš, dating to around 800 BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom./acc.sg. | /karmarattahi=sa/ | (“CUBITUM”)ka+ra/i-mara/i-ta-hi-sà | KARKAMIŠ A15b, §17 (Karkamiš) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
Despite its fully syllabic spelling, the phonological interpretation of this lexeme was unclear for a long time, because the reading of sign *462 remained under discussion (cf. e.g. Hawkins 2000a:132f.), but has since been resolved and is now commonly read 〈mara/i〉 (Yakubovich 2002a:191). The suggested form relies heavily on a possible cognate link with Hittite kalmara- ‘ray’, see discussion of meaning below. Towards the latter half of the lexeme, its phonological interpretation becomes more certain again, as the suffix /-ahid-/ is known from other words, and the final /d/ is assimilated or elided The HLuw. writing system makes it impossible to tell which of the possible processes took place. in contact with the following neuter particle /=sa/ (Melchert 2003b:182, 186f.).
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The first meaning suggested for this lexeme is ‘protection’ vel sim. (Hawkins 2000a:132f.), based strictly on the context the word is found in. In the relevant passage, the author tells of his good deeds with relation to others, extending /kalmarattahid-/ towards his lord’s children. In this case, a root-based cognate may perhaps be found in Hittite kalmus- ‘crook, lituus’.
The second meaning suggested is ‘radiance’, based on a possible cognate link with Hittite kalmara- ‘ray’ and the morphological structure of the word, as /-ahid-/ typically forms abstract nouns. Without further evidence, neither interpretation can be given preference over the other.
[AH.B.] [I.Y.]
1.1.5Stem
The noun is a neuter abstract noun in /-ahid-/, a suffix well-known from other HLuw. nouns (cf. e.g. Melchert 2003b:198).
[AH.B.]