nele(/i)-

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.]

dat./loc. sg. or pl.(?)

nele nele

TL 44a.46 (Xanthos)

The phrase nele nele is a case of iteration, commonly attested in Lycian; cf. nuredi nuredi. Melchert (DLL:43) prefers to see a locative singular in -e, which is possible, although a dat./loc. pl. cannot be entirely excluded despite the iteration.

[D.S.]

Pace Neumann 2007a:228, Lyc. B nelelixanere hardly contains the word nele and is rather to be segmented as ne=lelixa nere (see Lyc. B leli-^(ti)).

[D.S.]

On contextual grounds, Melchert 2002c:248 n. 33 (DLL:43) assigns to nele nele the meaning ‘in every settlement’, which fits the destructive action performed to the city of Tlos i.e. tlãñ nele : nele : tarbide ‘he overran Tlos, settlement after settlement’. This is followed by Sasseville 2021c:165, who brings further contextual evidence. The meaning ‘settlement’ is still compatible with the meaning ‘agora’ (Ancient Greek for gathering place/marketplace) obtained from the derivative neleze/i- ‘of the agora’, since it basically refers to a “gathering place” composed of numerous houses surrounding a “trading” place (or marketplace) equaling a small settlement (contra Oreshko 2021a:125, who prefers the translation “acropolis”, which is not supported by the context, since Tlos has only one acropolis and not “many”).Outdated Meriggi 1978c:252 “schiere”, followed by Cau 1999c:28.

[D.S.]

The nominal stem class of the noun in question cannot be assured due to the lack of forms.

[D.S.]

1. nelede

2. neleze/i-

Pace Neumann 2007a:228, CLuw. nallati is here read differently (see CLuw. nawila- ‘youth, young animal’) and can, therefore, hardly be connected to Lyc. nele(/i)-. Moreover, the semantics would be an ill fit. No etymology for Lyc. nele(/i)- is suggested here.

[D.S.]