/kistara(/i)-/, (DOMUS)ki-sà-ta+ra/i-
‘(a religious installation)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 2412
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/kistara(/i)-/, (DOMUS)ki-sà-ta+ra/i-
‘(a religious installation)’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax legomenon is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the mid-8th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| gen. | /kist(a)ras(a)/ | (DOMUS)ki-sà-ta+ra/i-sa | KARKAMIŠ A31+, §15 (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word is tentative, because the word lacks cognates (but see the discussion of the stem below). Since the spelling makes use of 〈sà〉 after /i/, it is possible that the sibilant was realized as /ʃ/, although this particular spelling rule was applied inconsistently by the 8th century BCE (see Rieken 2010b:658f.). The spelling also permits different interpretations than the one followed here, e.g. /kistara(/i)-/ and /kistra(/i)-/.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The spelling of the word involves the logographic determiner DOMUS (sign *247), which usually precedes types or parts of buildings. It is hence likely the word denotes something from the same semantic sphere, which prompted Barnett 1952a:262 to suggest ‘temple’, although that proved mistaken later when the word spelt DEUS.DOMUS was identified to mean ‘temple’. Still, Barnett 1952a’s basic idea that the word denotes some kind of religious installation is surely correct, not least because the word modifies a deity name in the context of attestation at KARKAMIŠ A31+, §15: á-pa-ti-pa-wa/i-ta 100 (DOMUS)ki-sà-ta+ra/i-sa (DEUS)ku-AVIS-sá LIS-la/i/u-sa-tú, approx. /abatti=ppa=wa=tta … kistaras Kubabas salissattu/, probably translating as ‘May Kubaba of 100 kistara- then oppose him’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:142).
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The lexeme appears to be attested in the genitive in KARKAMIŠ A31+, §15, but since the sign 〈+ra/i〉 is vocalically ambiguous, the form could also represent an adjective in /-i(ya)-/, i.e. /kistariyis/. Possible, but in no way provable and therefore entirely hypothetical at this point, is a connection with the noun HLuw. /kistam(i)-/ ‘east’.
[AH.B.]