am͂mãme/i-

This lexeme is found mainly in grave inscriptions from Eastern Lycia.

[D.S.]

nom./acc. pl. n.	am͂mãma	TL 102.3 (Limyra)
		TL 149.9 (Rhodiapolis)
		TL 111.4 (Limyra)
	am͂m[ã]ma	TL 131.4 (Limyra)
	am͂mạ̃ṃạ	TL 134.4 (Limyra)
	ãm͂mãm	TL 111.3 (Limyra)

For a better reading of the attestation in TL 134.4, see Christiansen 2020a:255; cf. Kalinka 1901a:87.

[D.S.]

The word am͂mãma is mainly used in penalty clauses and agrees in case, number and gender with words for sacrificial animals. Laroche 1967a:55 and Starke 1990a:297f. suggest taking am͂mãma as a substantive (in apposition) meaning ‘penalty’ (followed by Melchert in DLL:3, Neumann 2012a:393). Further, Starke 1990acompares Hitt. (a)impa- ‘burden’ to support the semantic assignment.Carruba 1974a:581 interprets the word instead as an adjective modifying the sacrificial animals with the meaning ‘young’, adducing Hittite ammiyant- ‘small’ as a potential cognate (followed by Eichner 2017a:291 n. 118 and hesitantly by Gehrisch 2018a:142-144). Based on the context, Neumann 1974a:110f. expects the meaning ‘wholesome’ and suggests that Lyc. am͂mãma is borrowed from Greek ἄμωμος ‘immaculate’ (rejected by Eichner 2017a:291 n. 118, partly followed by Christiansen 2020a:254f.). Furthermore, Neumann 2007a:15 argues for an adjectival interpretation instead of a substantival one.

From a combinatory perspective, the meaning ‘wholesome’ as suggested by Neumann 2007ais the most probable one, cf. the following Greek inscription: καὶ Θεοῖς καταχθονίοις ὁλοκαυστήσει βοῦς τελε[ί]ους δέκα (MonAnt 23.112 in Paribeni & Romanelli 1914a:154f.) ‘(If …), he will immolate to the gods below ten full-grown bovines.’ Thus, the meaning ‘full-grown, wholesome’ rendered by Greek τελείος is appropriate for the expected meaning of Lyc. am͂mãma, which makes the bovines more expensive. Evidence from the etymological perspective would be useful to further support theses semantics, although, as can be seen from the previous literature, there are some competing etymologies, which are in turn dependent on the semantic assignment of the Lycian word.

[D.S.]

Starke 1990a:297f. interprets am͂mãma as a neuter abstract noun corresponding to a Luwian formation in -mman-. A different approach would be to take it as a participial form of an unattested verb *am͂ma-^(ti), i.e. am͂mãme/i-, which is more objective and less dependent on etymological considerations. The gemination of the nasal -m̃m- speaks for a recent pre-Lycian assimilation (thus also Hajnal 1995a:102 n. 66).

[D.S.]

Several etymologies have been suggested for Lyc. am͂mãma (see under Meaning), but one should compare Lycian B ãpi-^(ti) ‘to impose (?)’. Hajnal 1995a:102 n. 66 also calls attention to the Luwian word āmmamma[(-) attested in a fragmentary context (likewise Melchert (CLL:11)).

[D.S.]