irele(/i)-

This lexeme is found once 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.]

gen. adj. acc. sg. c.

irelesi

TL 55.7 (Antiphellos)

A genitival adjective in -ese/i- is the most direct way of interpreting the word irelesi (cf. DLL:117, Schürr 2005a:140). A compound as in Neumann 2007a:154 is unmotivated. The separation of nek(e) irelesi is supported by the second instance of neke in the same sentence.

[D.S.]

The word irelesi most likely agrees with ziwalã ‘(a type of priest)’ (thus Shevoroshkin 2015a:199, contra Schürr 2005a:140). Shevoroshkin 2015a:199 suggests an etymological connection with Hitt. erḫā/arḫā- ‘line, boundary’ and translates Lyc. B irelesi with ‘pertaining to one’s limit, old aged’. Whereas his semantic interpretation is hardly convincing, the etymological approach is phonologically attractive, if ones assumes a sound change of Pre-Lycian *-rx- > -r- (see Lyc. eri). This would allow us to equate the base of Lyc. B irelese/i- with HLuw. /irha(l)l(i)-/ ´frontier-post´. Pending further evidence, no meaning is assigned here.

[D.S.]

The noun *irele(/i)- underlying the genitival adjective is not yet attested in Lycian, but see under Meaning for a possible cognate in Luwian.

[D.S.]