xθθas-

This lexeme is found in a funerary inscription from Limyra.

[D.S.]

dat./loc. sg.(?)

xθθase

TL 131.4 (Limyra)

In the previous literature, the word was often taken as a nom. sg. (Starke 1990a:45 n. 73), which is now considered outdated.

[D.S.]

Neumann 1974a:113f. suggests segmenting xθθase into xθθa and se ‘and’, which is not persuasive (not accepted by Starke 1990a:45 n. 73 and in DLL:85), especially since the word xθθã(n)- is an n-stem, so that a form **xθθa could not be fitted into the paradigm. As pointed out by Melchert (DLL:85), it is rather a formation in -s-, see under Stem.

[D.S.]

The xθθase refers to the recipient (animate or local?) of a monthly penalty inflicted on the potential offender by the mother of the local sanctuary, Leto. For xθθase, Neumann 1974a:113f. (Neumann 2007a:135f.) suggests an etymological connection to a word for ‘grain’ *xada- (via a genitival adjective, to explain the -θ-), which he recovers from toponyms such as Kadyanda (Lyc. Xadawãti; cf. Maier 2013a:234f.) ‘rich in grain’ and Καδρεμα (attested as a Greek gloss, see Neumann 1962a:207f. for the details); see under Lyc. A xadrñna. The same meaning is proposed by Carruba 1974a:582, though adducing the Hittite root ḫat- ‘dry’ (followed by HEG A-H:220). Schürr 2012a:132 suggests that xθθase is a personal name, which is highly unlikely from a combinatorial and grammatical point of view (the PN dative marker -je would be missing). He suggests an etymological connection to xθθã(n)-, which is possible but not cogent either (see under lemma).

Based on the context, it is tempting to see xθθase as a place, where the payment is to be made. In any case, further evidence is needed to confirm any hypothesis.

Against the earlier views that took xθθase as a numeral, see Neumann 2007a:135f. with further literature.

[D.S.]

For a recent overview on Lycian formations in -s-, which would make the form in -se dat./loc. sg., see Schürr 2017-2018a.

[D.S.]