erbbe(/i)-

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.) as well as in a grave inscription containing a long biography (TL 29) datable to the reign of Alexander the Great.

[D.S.]

dat./loc. sg.	erbbi	TL 44b.35 (Xanthos)
dat./loc. pl.	erbbe	TL 29.3 (Tlos)
abl./instr.	erbbedi	TL 44a.47 (Xanthos)
		TL 44b.19 (Xanthos)
		TL 44c.13 (Xanthos)

The word erbbe is taken as dat./loc. pl. following Carruba 1978b:177 and Neumann 2007a:65. A locative singular in -e as alternatively suggested by Melchert (DLL:16) is less likely.

[D.S.]

From a comparative perspective with CLuw. arpā- then translated as ‘defeat, failure’, Laroche 1958a:98 suggests a similar sense for Lycian erbbe(/i)-, which would be contextually adequate, since the word often occurs in military passages (followed by Neumann 1984b:89, Lebrun 1990a:165, Cau 2003b:60). Hajnal 1995a:70, 105 n. 85 modifies the semantics to “battle”, which would fit the context of TL 44b.34 better. Likewise, the meaning ‘battle’ is used by van den Hout 1995c:159 for TL 44c.13 and by Schürr 2012a:125 for TL 29.3. Melchert (DLL:16) translates it with ‘strife, war, battle’, pointing out that CLuw. arpā- refers to the moil of battle. The meaning ‘battle, war’ is followed by Gehrisch 2018aand Sasseville 2021a:234, 379, 418, 491 (including translations of the contexts), and the meaning ‘defeat’ is considered outdated. For a list of other outdated hypotheses, see Neumann 2007a:65.

[D.S.]

Based on the attestations alone, it is not possible to tell whether erbbe(/i)- is a mutated common gender or a non-mutated neuter gender stem. From a historical perspective, the former appears more likely; see under Reconstruction.

[D.S.]

1. Erbbina- (PN) (cf. Neumann 2007a:66 with further references)

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.) as well as in the poetical inscription engraved on the lion sarcophagus of Antiphellos, dated on stylistic grounds to the beginning of the 4^th century BCE (Zahle 1979a:318, Mühlbauer 2007a:91).

[D.S.]

dat./loc. sg.	erbbi	TL 55.6 (Antiphellos)
gen. adj. nom. sg. c.	er[b]besi	TL 44d.13 (Xanthos)

The sense has been etymologically deduced by Laroche 1958a:98 “defeat” and followed by Neumann 1984b:89, which made sense as an epithet for the Storm-god. Melchert (DLL:115) follows the etymological connection, but suggests instead the meaning ‘battle’ (followed by Shevoroshkin 2012a:467 and Schürr 2018b:67). The meaning ‘war’ fits the context even better, e.g. in the contrast esetesi=[k]e er[b]besi=ke ‘of both peace and war’ (similarly Gehrisch 2018a:90). Schürr 2005a:138 also suggests ‘war’ for TL 55.6, although the word it is paired with is still unclear, see km͂qe(/i)-.

[D.S.]

Based on the attestations alone, it is no possible to tell whether erbbe(/i)- is a mutated common gender or a non-mutated neuter gender stem. From a historical perspective, the former is preferred; see under Reconstruction.

[D.S.]