hlm͂me/i-

This lexeme is found in various grave inscriptions.

[D.S.]

acc. sg.	hlm͂mi	TL 29.5 (Tlos)
		TL 29.9 (Tlos)
		TL 88.4(x2) (Myra)
		TL 93.2 (Myra)
		TL 93.3 (Myra)
case unknown	hḷṃ͂mi	TL 29.11 (Tlos)

Following the discovery of the trilingual inscription, in which the compound hlm͂mipijata- is rendered with a Greek word for ‘profit’, the approximate semantics of hlm͂me/i- became clear. On contextual grounds, the phrase hlm͂mi tuwe-^(ti) was correctly understood as referring to the illegal addition of grave and grave chambers (Carruba 1977a:306-308, Meriggi 1978c:245, Morpurgo Davies 1987a:209, DLL:24 “addition, gain, income”, Schürr 2005a:150f. “enlargement, extension”; pace Hajnal 1995a:182 “tribute”).

The word also occurs in a different context (TL 29), in which it is the direct object of the verb erite ‘he raised’, i.e. an action performed by Alexander the Great after incorporating Lycia into his kingdom. van den Hout 1995c:156 suggests the translation ‘he levied(?) tax’ (partly followed by Sasseville 2021a:419 ‘raised the taxes’). These interpretations are, however, by no means assured. The meaning ‘profit, surplus’ (cf. hlm͂mipijata-) would also be contextually adequate. For an overview of the outdated literature, see Neumann 2007a:94f.

[D.S.]

The word hlm͂me/i- can be best interpreted as a substantivized participle derived from the verb hla(i)-^(di) or the corresponding stem of Lycian B sla-^(ti) (contra Hajnal 1995a:182). The latter is more likely, since the stem vowel -a- in *hlãme/i- would have been more easily syncopated (→ hlm͂me/i- with accent shift) than a diphthong as in *hlaime/i-. One should also compare Lyc. B slãma-. Differently, Schürr 2005a:151 suggests a derivative in -i(je)- built on the substantivized participle, which is formally possible, but not yet provable due to the lack of attestations of the relevant forms.

[D.S.]

1. hlm͂mipijata-

2. Hlm͂midewe- (PN) (DLL:10, 95)

For the lemma head see Lyc. *hle/i-.