ripsse-

This lexeme is attested 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.]

acc. sg. (?)	ripssẽ	TL 44d.57 (Xanthos)
dat./loc. pl.	ripsse	TL 44d.55 (Xanthos)
abl./instr.	ripssedi	TL 44d.46 (Xanthos)

Melchert (DLL:128) and Neumann 2007a:308 take ripssẽ as acc. sg., whereas Schürr 2018b:67 takes it as gen. pl. both are formally possible. The interpretation as acc. sg. c. gains support in face of the genitival adjective atlasi, which occurs (most likely) in the same clause and very probably modifies ripssẽ (thus Meriggi 1936b:271). Therefore, preference is tentatively given to the acc. sg. interpretation.

[D.S.]

The word ripsse- is obviously a compound made of ri (or better eri with aphaeresis, thus Meriggi 1936b:271, Schürr 2018b:67, likewise Shevoroshkin 1971a:213 “(a)ri”) and psse- of obscure meaning. The identification of (e)ri with the preverb eri is possible (thus Meriggi 1936b:271, Schürr 2018b:67) but not assured. The word ripsse expresses the place or the goal that the gods have received many breads for thanks to the Lycian king (see Sasseville 2021a:308 and the lemma waxssa-). Shevoroshkin 2002a:232 suggests the meaning ‘produce delivery’, which is a mere guess. No specific meaning is given here.

[D.S.]

If ripssẽ is indeed modified by atlasi, it would serve as evidence for a common gender non-mutated e-stem. However, if ripssẽ turns out to be gen. pl., the stem would become obscure.

[D.S.]

For the second member of the compound, see Lyc B psse-.