*161-ma-
‘(unknown)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 3424
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
*161-ma-
‘(unknown)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested once in an inscription from Tell Ahmar, dating to the late 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| dat./loc. sg. | /…-(m)mazzi/ | *161-ma-zi | TELL AHMAR 2, §20 (Tell Ahmar) |
Against Hawkins 2000a:230, the form at TELL AHMAR 2, §20 is likely a dat./loc. sg. because of the following dat./loc. sg. demonstrative /zatti/ ‘this’, which probably belongs to it despite the postnominal position.
[A.P.] [AH.B.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
Due to the logographic spelling, the phonological interpretation of this word is partly opaque. It appears to end in /°m(m)azzi/, but no possible cognates have been identified so far.
The logogram *161 resembles an ornate staff of some kind, but has yet to be fixed with any interpretation. It is found twice more in severely broken contexts, viz. KARKAMIŠ A24 frags. 13 and 17 (cf. Hawkins 2000a:138), neither of which contributes to its understanding.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning of this word remains unknown. Not only is the logogram *161 semantically unclear, its occurrences also do not further elucidate it. Thus, TELL AHMAR 2, §20 reads: *a-wa/i-tá CAPUT-ti á-lá/í-na *161-ma-zi za-ti-i SUPER+ra/i-a EGO […], approx. /a=wa=tta …-tti alunna …-mazzi zatti sarra ammu …/, perhaps translating in parts as ‘I … enmity to the (noble)man over this *161-mazzi-’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:228).
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Since the phonological form of the word is at least partly unknown, its stem is difficult to assess. The context at TELL AHMAR 2, §20 strongly suggests it to be a dat./loc. sg., and the /-i/ ending constitutes a point against an a-stem, ruling out a formation in /-zza-/ (though not one in /-zza/i-/). Any further analysis will have to await additional textual evidence.
[AH.B.]