/saplalli(ya)-/, sá-pa-la/i-li-
‘ancestral (?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- adj
- ID
- 2061
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/saplalli(ya)-/, sá-pa-la/i-li-
‘ancestral (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested twice in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
|
acc. sg. c. |
/saplallin/ |
sá-pa-la/i-li-na |
|
|
acc. pl. n. |
/saplalliya/ |
sá-pa-la/i-li-ia |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The spelling of this word leaves some room for variations in the phonological interpretation, though not much. Besides the suggested /saplalli(ya)-/, other possible underlying forms are /sap(p)alalli(ya)-/ and /spal(l)alli(ya)-/, with neither offering a sensible etymological link. The interpretation proposed here could perhaps connect the word to the Hittite onomastic compound member -šepa- ‘genius, protective spirit’ (HEG Š:990-993, CHD Š:381f.) and the Lydian personal name šapλalλ. However, more evidence is needed.
[AH.B.] [I.Y.]
1.1.4Meaning
The word is attested twice in the same sentence in KARKAMIŠ A11b+c, §5, which occurs in the historical part of the inscription: *a-wa/i-ma-zá *a-mi-i-na sá-pa-la/i-li-na URBS+MI-ni i-pa-ni-si-ná(URBS) á-ma-ha-wa/i sá-pa-la/i-li-ia TERRA.PONERE-ru-tà mu-zi-ki-ia(URBS) […], approx. /a=wa=mmanza ammin saplallin …-ni IPanissin amma=ha=wa saplalliya …-ruda Munzigiya …/, perhaps translating as ‘[I …-ed] my ancestral (?) city Ipanissi and my ancestral (?) (types of land holding?) of Munziga to/from them’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:103). The passage details how the author of this building inscription takes over a city and rebuilds it; claiming ancestral rights to the locale would be a typical feature in trying to legitimise such actions.
[AH.B.] [I.Y.]
1.1.5Stem
An adjective, the word appears to be built with the suffix /-i(ya)-/, probably on the basis of a substantivized former adjective in /-alla/i-/, a frequent process in Luwian. It may share the same root as the Lydian personal name šapλalλ and Hittite -šepa- ‘genius, protective spirit’, cf. the discussion of the phonology above.
[AH.B.]