zawa
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Lycian B
- Grammar
- subst, n.
- ID
- 1797
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian B
zawa
‘(unknown)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is found in the inscription of the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated contextually to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE and stylistically to around 400 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).
[D.S.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom./acc. pl. n. | zawa | TL 44d.7 (Xanthos) |
The grammatical interpretation follows that suggested by Melchert (DLL:137), contra Shevoroshkin 2011a:38 “dat. pl.”; see below.
[D.S.]
1.1.3Meaning
Shevoroshkin 1979a:193 (and Shevoroshkin 2011a:38) connects zawa to Lyc. B ziwi, a word for god (followed by Gehrisch 2018a:90), which is phonologically very unlikely. The expected dative plural form ziwi would be *ziwe or *ziwa, but not **zawa. If the semantic assignment of qttide as ‘he dragged (or removed)’ is correct, zawa refers to something that can be physically manipulated. A connection with Hitt. GIŠzāu- (a kind of plate) is phonologically attractive, but difficult to prove. Further evidence is needed.
[D.S.]