REX.INFANS
‘prince(ss)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 3548
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
REX.INFANS
‘prince(ss)’1.1.1Transmission
This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Malatya dating to the 11th or early 10th century BCE.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom. sg. | /…/ | REX.INFANS | MALATYA 6 (Malatya) |
[A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this word remains unclear. The logogram is listed as sign *46 and constitutes a combination of REX (*17) and INFANS (*45). The latter is usually accompanied by a sexus indicator, i.e. FEMINA (*79) for a female offspring (→ FILIA), and VIR2 (*386) for a male offspring (→ FILIUS), but the attestation at MALATYA 6 lacks either, which may or may not be an accidental omission, cf. Hawkins 2000a:308.
It is possible, but in no way provable, that the word contains a form of HLuw. /niwarann(i)-/ ‘child’ or a semantically similar word such as HLuw. /tuwatr(i)-/ ‘daughter’ or HLuw. /nimuwizza-/ ‘son’; only further textual evidence can shed light on the matter.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The word occurs in a very short inscription at MALATYA 6, which runs in its entirety: tu-wa/i-ti REX.INFANS ˹sà+US-ka˺, meaning ‘Prince(ss?) Tuwatti: (the goddess) Sauska’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:308). As reported by Bilgin 2018a:419, the designation REX.INFANS does not only apply to the immediate descendants of the king, but can also be used for other members of the extended family. From a semantic point of view, REX.FILIUS and REX.FILIA are usually considered the equivalent of the sumerograms DUMU.LUGAL ‘prince’ and DUMU.MUNUS LUGAL ‘princess’ respectively, see e.g. Laroche 1960c:33f.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
Although it is not clear from the attestation, the word is very probably a common gender noun, since it refers to a human entity. The spelling with two logograms could hint at a compound, but in no way constitutes proof of one.
[AH.B.]