/huhurpal-/
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Common Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, n.
- ID
- 2194
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/huhurpal-/, (“LIGNUM”)hu-hú+ra/i-pa-li
‘(unknown)’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| dat./loc. sg. | /huhurpali/ | (“LIGNUM”)hu-hú+ra/i-pa-li | KARKAMIŠ A11b+c, §10 (Karkamiš) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of the present word is reasonably certain, because it belongs to the word family around /huhurpa-/ ‘to hunt, to catch (?)’. While the spelling of the stem-final can represent either /-alli/, /-ali/, the related word /huhurpali(ya)-/ and its attested rhotacism for /l/ strongly suggest that the /l/ should be deemed singleton here as well. The quality of the /l/ receives further support from the fact that the word is likely related to CLuw. ḫuḫurpāl- (cf. Melchert, pers. comm. “part of chariot”; Rieken 1999a:452-454), resembling the spelling as much as it does with LIGNUM (sign *382) for a logographic determinative.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The semantic interpretation of this word is far from clear-cut, and the scholarly discussion has taken several turns. Thus, Kalaç 1978a:124 suggested ‘sceptre’ (“Szepter, (Königswürde)”), but this was already deemed dubious by Melchert 1988b:230, who linked it to a designation for a musical instrument. Later, Rieken 1999a:453 considers ‘stick, whip’ (“Stock, Treibstock, Peitsche”) vel sim., and Giusfredi 2010b:164 mentions ‘throne’ and ‘(part of a chariot)’ as possibilities. In the context at KARKAMIŠ A11b+c, §10, the noun denotes something that can be inhabited by the gods: *a-wa/i-ma-tá (“LIGNUM”)hu-hú+ra/i-pa-li (SOLIUM)á-sa-tá, approx. /a=wa=mu=anta huhurpali asanta/, meaning ‘(But my master the storm-god Tarhunt of the Sky, the god Karhuha, and the goddess Kubaba loved me because of my loyalty), (and) they dwelled in my huhurpali-. (They ran before me, and I devastated those areas)’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:103, 106). The clause likely describes success with the means of a /huhurpal(i)-/, esp. since this is followed by the frequently used image of the gods running before the author, expressing perceived support with a military venture. It is therefore probable that /huhurpal(i)-/ denotes a kind of weapon or some similar military equipment.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Without further attestation, the grammatical gender of this word remains unclear. If it is a deverbal instrument noun in /-al-/ (cf. Melchert 2003b:197) like its CLuw. cognate GIŠḫuḫurpāl-, it would be neuter gender. Alternatively, the HLuw. form may represent a substantivized adjective in /-al(i)-/ and may be common gender.
[AH.B.]
1.1.6Derivatives
1.2 Luwian in Hittite transmission
ḫuḫurpāl-
‘(unknown)’1.2.1Transmission
This lexeme is found on a ritual fragment, published in transliteration by Akdoğan 2016a:8 (for the autography, see Akdoğan 2016b:5).
[D.S.]
1.2.2Forms
| nom./acc. sg. | [GI]Šḫu-ḫu-úr-pa-a-a[l] | DBH 46/2.13, 6’ | (CTH 470, MS) |
1.2.3Graphic Features
Checked against the photograph in the Konkordanz (Mainzer Fotoarchiv).
[D.S.]
1.2.4Meaning
No concrete meaning can be assigned due to the fragmentary context; see under Origin.
[D.S.]
1.2.5Origin
Melchert (pers. comm.) suggests this word to be of Luwian origin with a meaning ‘(part of a chariot)’, pointing out the word for ‘wagon’ in line 2’. In fact, it corresponds exactly to HLuw. (“LIGNUM”)hu-hú+ra/i-pa-li, although the exact meaning of this word is still unclear. A further clue for the Luwian origin of the noun is the suffix -āl- n., which builds instrument nouns (matching Hitt. -āli- n.).
[D.S.]