*(H)Ermeh2-
‘moon’
- Language
- Proto-Anatolian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 3225
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/arma-/, LUNA+MI-
‘month, moon’1.1.1Transmission
The two occurrences of this lexeme both originate from Tabal and date to the mid-8th century BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| acc. pl. | /armanzi/ | LUNA+MI-za/i | TOPADA, §22 (Tabal) |
| poss. adj. abl./instr. | /armassadi/ | a+ra/i-ma-sa-ri+i-i | SULTANHAN, §3 (Tabal) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of the present lexeme is facilitated by the fully syllabic spelling of the genitival adjective found in SULTANHAN, §3, as well as the cognates in the other Anatolian languages, notably the deity name Arma e.g. in CLuw. dArma- (CLL:28), which is also present in HLuw. and usually spelt 〈(DEUS)LUNA(-)〉. The logogram LUNA (sign *193) is also used in other words, mostly deity names and personal names based on deities both in HLuw. as well as several other Anatolian languages, see Laroche 1960c:102f.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
That the present lexeme denotes ‘month’ was first suggested by Bossert 1953a:295 based on its context of attestation in TOPADA, §22, where the relevant phrase reads: 3 LUNA+MI-zi/a, i.e. ‘three months’,Otherwise, clause §22 is mostly obscure, cf. Hawkins 2000a:458, although it may mean something along the lines of ‘Armed, they stayed before the … for three months’, following the interpretation of the word family around /warp(i)-/ ‘weapon’ by Yakubovich 2019a. in a clause that follows one containing the phrase 3 ANNUS ‘three years’. Likewise, the SULTANHAN, §3 attestation uses the word to denote time: BOS(ANIMA)-ri+i-i 9 OVIS a+ra/i-ma-sa-ri+i-i, ‘an ox and nine monthling sheep’, cf. Hawkins 2000a:466, who follows Laroche 1960c:67 and Meriggi in HHG:33.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The lexeme is a common gender noun. Its genitival adjective as well as its inner-HLuw. cognates in the personal and deity names as well as the CLuw. cognates strongly suggest that it is, in all likelihood, an a-stem (cf. e.g. Sasseville 2015a:282f. and Sasseville 2021a:68), although what is attested of the paradigm does not provide conclusive proof.
[AH.B.]
1.2 Cuneiform Luwian
*arma-
‘moon, month’1.2.1Derivatives
1.2.1.1Uncertain Derivatives
1.3 Lycian A
arm̃ma-
‘moon(-god), month’1.3.1Transmission
This noun is found in a fragmentary inscription preserved on a block that was used as a statue base.
[D.S.]
1.3.2Forms
| nom. sg. | arm̃ma | N 304.5 (Sura) |
1.3.3Graphic Features
Based on the autography and the photo by Neumann 1979a:18, the word arm̃ma appears to be complete, although it had been earlier suggested that it might not end after the fifth letter. Also contra Neumann 2007a:20.
[D.S.]
1.3.4Meaning
Despite the fragmentary context, Neumann 1979a:19 posits the meaning ‘month, moon’, probably based on the already known compound rm̃mazata- ‘monthly delivery’ and the obvious Anatolian cognates (see Neumann 2007a:70). Melchert 1994a:321 (and DLL:4) opens the possibility of seeing the ‘Moon-god’ (EDHIL:206 “moon”; Sasseville 2015a:283 leaves it open “month” or “Moon-god”). Pending a restoration of the context, no decision can be made, and all these meanings are thus considered possible.
[D.S.]
1.3.5Compounds
-
Erm̃menẽne/i- (PN) (Melchert 1994a:296, Neumann 2007a:70, Sasseville 2015a:283 n. 4)
1.4 Carian
armo
‘month’1.4.1Transmission
Hapax in a stele with a priest list (among others) from Hyllarima (its Carian heading is dated to 320 or 320/319, Adiego 2019b:20–22)
[Zs.S.]
1.4.2Forms
| dat.-loc. sg. | armo | C.Hy 1, 2 |
The attestation follows Adiego 2019b:19f., 26 (cf. Adiego 2007a:355f.), checked against the photograph in Laumonier 1934a:347 Fig. 26. Adiego 2019b:26 defines it as loc. sg., but formally speaking we are dealing with a dative singular and the usage of dative for locative is well attested in the other Luwic languages, too. Note, however, that the precise morphological relation of Carian datives in -o and their stem requires further investigation.
[Zs.S.]
1.4.3Meaning ‘month’
Adiego 2019b:19f., 26 convincingly demonstrated the meaning of armo as ‘month’ with the help of a dating formula (accordingly, the previous interpretations as the name of the Moon God [Adiego, Debord & Varınlıoğlu 2005a:615‒617, Adiego 2007a:356f.,Adiego 2010b:160] or the first member of a personal name [Melchert 2010f:185] are obsolete).
[Zs.S.]
1.5 Hittite
*arma-
‘moon, month’1.5.1Literature / Comments
HW 2nd ed. A:313-323
2. Reconstruction
2.1Reconstruction ‘moon’
The comparison between Hittite and CLuw. *arma- (ITU-a-, DSÎN-a-), HLuw. /arma-/ c., Lyc. arm̃ma- and Car. armo- leads to the reconstruction of a Proto-Anatolian noun *(H)Ermeh2-. For the reconstruction of the stem in *-eh2-, see Sasseville 2015a:283 (and Sasseville 2021a:69f.); already suspected by EDHIL:207. Götze 1954a:80 n. 104 suggests a derivative from the root *h3er- with a suffix *-mo-, whereas Kloekhorst (EDHIL:206f.) reconstructs *h1(o)r-mo- with the root *h1er- ‘to move, come, arrive’See Luw. /ar-(ti)/. (contra HEG A:62, but without any other suggestion). Zeilfelder 1998a:446f. defends the etymology by Götze and reconstructs *h3or-mo- ‘the rising one’. For the root *h3er- in Anatolian, see *h3ór‑/*h3r̥‑´, which is, albeit possible, semantically unexpected, since the moon, as opposed to the sun, is not particularly known for its “rising”-movement. She refutes the connection with Hitt. erman- ‘sickness’; see HED A:154f. for a summary of outdated hypotheses Oettinger 2021c leaves the PAnat. root as *ar-, without any PIE connection. In any case, the ablaut of the root cannot be determined either, which renders an exact reconstruction difficult and, therefore, the exact root etymology is left open here.
[D.S.]