mrssxa-

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.).

[D.S.]

The word mrssxã is the direct object of the verb tub(e)i-^(di) ‘to destroy’, an action performed by the Storm-god. Shevoroshkin 1971a:210 and Carruba 1980a:291f. suggest an etymological connection with Hitt. maršaḫḫ-^(ḫi) ‘to desecrate, falsify’ (followed by DLL:121, Melchert 2015c:161 n. 7, Sasseville 2014-2015a:113 n. 21, Gehrisch 2018a:90, contra Schürr 2005a:144 and Schürr 2018b:73). However, where Shevoroshkin (ibid.) sees an agent noun ‘desecrator’, Melchert (DLL:121) points out rightly that it should be an action noun from a morphological perspective, i.e. ‘deceit, falsehood’ (thus also Neumann 2007a:223, followed by Sasseville 2014-2015a:113); see under Stem. From a contextual perspective, mrssxa- should refer to offending actions towards the gods, such as ‘desecration (vel sim.)’.

[D.S.]

The word mrssxa- can be analyzed as a verbal abstract noun in -a- derived from the factitive verb *mrssax- (matching Hitt. maršaḫḫ-^(ḫi)). Thus, the Lycian B noun would equate to a virtual Hitt. *maršaḫḫa- (Sasseville 2021a:48).

[D.S.]

1. mrssxa-^(ti)

For the lemma head see Lyc. *mrssa-.