tube-

This lexeme is attested in TL 29, dated to ca. 330 BCE (Bryce 1986a:49), and in TL 44, the pillar of Xanthos, dated stylistically to around 400 BCE and contextually to shortly after the ascension of the Persian emperor Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).

[O.B.]

The form tube occurs immediately preceded by telẽzijẽ ‘of the armies’ in a fragmentary passage of TL 29, whereas the gen. adj. tubehi on TL 44 modifies prñnezi ‘household-member’, preceded by hãtahe ‘for the War-god’ (see Melchert 2002c). Given the likely radical connection to the Lycian iterative verb tub(e)i-^(di) ‘to destroy’ (i.e. ‘to strike repeatedly’), some meaning like ‘strike’ seems probable. Moreover, an association with the War-god and armies may indicate an additional derived meaning ‘battle’ (cf. Swedish slag ‘battle’, lit. ‘strike’). This analysis allows for a possible but tentative translation of the phrase hãtahe : tubehi : prñnezi in TL 44 as ‘for the War God, the (divine) household-member of battles’, tubehi prñnezi standing in apposition to hãtahe. However, note that the evidence presented here should not be considered conclusive and that this meaning of tube- is not beyond reasonable doubt.

On account of the verb tube-^(di) ‘to agree (vel sim.)’, most likely derived from this noun (see Stem), one could alternatively envision some meaning related to this notion. This analysis finds no contextual support, however. Furthermore, the meaning ‘to agree (vel sim.)’ is not impossible to derive from ‘strike’ (see tube-^(di)).

[O.B.]

The stem formation of this lemma depends on the analysis of the form tube. If the form is nom. sg., the lemma must be an e-stem, whereas a dat./loc. pl. reading also allows for an i-mutating stem. However, the probable derivative tube-^(di) lends credence to the former analysis (cf. Melchert 1997b:136, Sasseville 2021a:210).

[O.B.]

1. tube-^(di)
2. tubehid-

This lexeme is a hapax in Lycian B, attested in TL 44, the pillar of Xanthos, dated stylistically to around 400 BCE and contextually to shortly after the ascension of the Persian emperor Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).

[O.B.]

See Meaning under the corresponding Lycian A lemma. A meaning ‘battle’ is not excluded for, but likewise not proven by, the attestation in TL 44c.60-61. The abl./instr. form could hypothetically be taken as an ablative of cause, giving the sense ‘because of the battle(s)’. This would yield a contextually appropriate reading of the passage, i.e. kize : qle : pe͂niu : tubedi lebi : kudi : pubrati … ‘Because of the battle(s), I will send lebi to any precinct where he (Gergis?) commissions…’.

[O.B.] [D.S.]

See Stem under the corresponding Lycian A lemma. However, note that Korolev & Shevoroshkin 1969a:541 rather analyze tubedi as a verbal form related to Lyc. A tube-^(di) (cf. also Schürr 2016d:172).

[O.B.]

For the PIE root etymology see PAnat. *(s)teṷp-.