SACERDOS-li-
‘priest’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 2876
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
SACERDOS-li-
‘priest’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested three times in inscriptions from Karkamiš and Tabal, dating maximally from the 11th to the late 8th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom. sg. | /…/ | SACERDOS-li-sa | KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §14c (Karkamiš) |
| SACERDOS-sa6 | SUVASA insc. B (Tabal) | ||
| SACERDOS-sa | KARKAMIŠ A4b, §7 (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word has so far remained unclear, cf. the remarks by Giusfredi 2010b:122f. A connection to the HLuw. family around /kummai(ya)-/ ‘pure’ is possible, but not assured, and the logogram SACERDOS (sign *355) is limited to the present word.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning of this word was elucidated by Hawkins 2000a:81f., who connected it to the logogram *372 (now read SACERDOS2), a 2nd millennium BC sign long since identified as ‘priest’ (see Laroche 1960c:198), to the shape of *355.Previous semantic interpretations had included ‘minister’ (Laroche 1960c:185) and ‘cup-bearer’ (Meriggi 1967b:55). The interpretation is borne out by the contexts of attestation, e.g. SUVASA inscr. B: sax+ra/i-ia-sa (DEUS)SARMA-ma-sa ARMA.REX SACERDOS-sa6 wa/i4-su-SARMA-ma-sa MAGNUS.REX-sa7-´ HEROS-sa4 PRAE-na MAGNUS.URCEUS-sa6, meaning ‘Sariya, priest of (the god) Warlord Sarruma, chief cup-bearer before Great-King Wasusarma, the hero’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:462f.).
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Although much of the stem of the present word is unknown, its grammatical gender can be clearly determined. Moreover, the attestations suggest – but do not prove – a stem in /-alla/i-/, in which case the word would be a substantivised former adjective deriving from an unknown base noun. One should also compare MAGNUS.SACERDOS2.
[AH.B.]