/s(ap)pantal(i)-/, (CAELUM.*286.x)sá-pa-tara/i-i-
‘person in charge of dairy (?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 3299
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/s(ap)pantal(i)-/, (CAELUM.*286.x)sá-pa-tara/i-i-
‘person in charge of dairy (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom. sg. | /s(ap)pantalis/ | (CAELUM.*286.x)sá-pa-tara/i-i-sa | KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §17a (Karkamiš) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word hinges on the etymological connection accepted for it. It was long thought to be cognate with Hittite išpant-/šipant-(ḫi) ‘to libate’, which would suggest a shape such as /spantaR(i)-/. However, Simon 2019d:115f. points out that this connection is fraught with phonological difficulties and cannot be upheld. He suggests instead to link it with Hittite šapp- ‘to churn, make butter’ with two further suffixes, cf. the discussion of the stem below. The /r/ in the final suffix may represent an original /r/, or result from rhotacism of intervocalic /l/ or /d/.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning of this word has not yet been fully elucidated. Because of its place of occurrence and possible phonological shape, a connection to the priestly sphere and a similar meaning (‘donor’) were tentatively suggested by Tischler (HEG I-K:412), who connects it to Hittite išpant-/šipant-(ḫi) ‘to libate’; this view and the meaning ‘libation priest’ were largely accepted by the scholarly community (see Simon 2019d:114 n. 4 for references). However, the phonological and logographic issues highlighted by Simon 2019d:114-116 lead him to suggest a connection with Hittite šapp- ‘to churn, make butter’, and such a skilled trade is, in fact, more likely in the context. For the word occurs in the dedication and protection of a temple and names a number of different artisans (‘tool/craft masters’) bound or indentured to the temple by the local ruler. KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §17a begins the list with: ma-wa/i-sa (CAELUM.*286.x)sá-pa-tara/i-i-sa, approx. /man=wa=as s(ap)pantalis/, meaning ‘(The tool-masters whom Country-Lord Katuwa gave to this Tarhunt of Karkamiš), whether one (is) a person in charge of dairy (?), (or whether one is a brewer, or whether one is a baker, …’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:110), cf. HLuw. /mizzinalla-/ ‘brewer, wine maker’ and HLuw. /tunikkal(l)a-/ ‘baker’.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Likely a derivation in /-al(i)-/ or /-ar(i)-/,The suffix /-alla/i-/ is not likely, since geminate /-ll-/ is not expected to rhotacise, see Sasseville 2021e. Simon 2019d:115f. regards it as derived from a participle */sappant-/, which may or may not be a loan from Hittite with the verb šapp- ‘to churn, make butter’. Though plentiful in Hittite, participles in /-nt-/ are rare in Luwian, which instead relies on the suffix /-mma/i-/ for participles (cf. e.g. Hawkins 2003b:194).
[AH.B.]