VITELLUS(ANIMA)
‘calf’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 2604
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
VITELLUS(ANIMA)
‘calf’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the mid-8th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| acc. sg. | /…/ | VITELLUS(ANIMA) | CEKKE inscr. 1, §4 (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word is unknown. Further evidence is required to connect it to possible cognates in the other Anatolian languages.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
While the phonological shape of the word is in the dark still, its meaning is not for the pictographic nature of the logogram VITELLUS (sign *109), which shows a bovine head with growing horns (thus first Laroche 1960c:70, cf. Hutter 2019b:247).Doubts over the sign are expressed by Hawkins 2006b:59 regarding further attestations of the sign in combination with others (followed by Oreshko 2013a:389). The assigned meaning fits CEKKE inscr. 1, §4 easily, although the context cannot be said to enforce it: za-ti-pa CAELUM (DEUS)TONITRUS VITELLUS(ANIMA) ARHA (“[FLAMM]AE?”)k[i-n]u-ti, approx. /zatti=ba tippasassan Tarhunti … ahha kinunti/, meaning ‘For this (storm-god) Tarhunt of Heaven they shall burn up a calf, (and afterwards they shall offer an ox and a sheep)’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:145).
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Unclear. Like words for other animals, the present lexeme may be assumed to be a common gender noun, but until further evidence is found, even this must remain speculation.
[AH.B.]