mallitalla/i-

Hapax in a Hittite inventory text in NS (cf. Cammarosano 2013a:84 on the text type).

[Zs.S.]

nom. pl. c.

ma-al-li-ta-al-le-en-zi

KUB 12.1 iv 31’

(CTH 504, NS)

Attestation following CLL:133 and CHD L-N:131 (cf. also Laroche 1959a:66; Starke 1990a:191; HEG L-S:107) checked against the photograph of the Konkordanz.

[Zs.S.]

There is a broad but cautious consensus since Laroche 1959a:66 (with question mark; of unknown meaning in Laroche 1957a:10) that the word means a kind of container for honey (van Brock 1962a:110; CHD L-N:131; Ünal 2007a:420, Ünal 2016a:333 [all with question mark, but Ünal 2007a:420 gives also ‘Honigtopf / bal kabı’ without question mark]), a ‘honey jar’ (CLL:133; EDHIL:580, both with question mark) or ‘honey-pot’ (Košak 1978a:106, 111; Siegelová 1986a:451, 606; HED M:156 [“vel sim.”]; Melchert 2005a:451; Tischler 2008a:108, Tischler 2016a:206 [with question mark; of unknown meaning in HEG L-S:107]), based on the assonance with the Luwian word for ‘honey’ and its transparent morphology (cf. under Origin). Only Starke 1990a:191 is cautious, who translates it as ‘den Honig betreffend’ and speaks about “Gegenstände, die mit Honig zu tun haben”.

The context does not really help us to understand the meaning of this word better, all that we know is that this object could have been made both from gold with stone and from iron with gold (KUB 12.31 iv 31’-32’, Košak 1978a:102, 106; Siegelová 1986a:450f.). It must remain open whether this is an appropriate way of storing honey. The assumption of ‘honey jar’ or any real vessel is not supported by the spelling, since it lacks the determinative DUG. It is unknown whether it has any significance that the only other object in this paragraph is a silver sun disk inlaid with gold.

[Zs.S.]

There is a general consensus that this word is Luwian since Laroche 1959a:66 (van Brock 1962a:110; Starke 1990a:191; CLL:133; HED M:156; Ünal 2007a:420, Ünal 2016a:333; EDHIL:580; CHD L-N:131; Tischler 2008a:108, Tischler 2016a:206), demonstrated not only by its assonance with mallit-, the Luwian word for ‘honey’ (see s.v.) and its regular derivation by the Luwian suffix -alla/i- (CLL:133; CHD L-N:131; HED M:156) but first and foremost by its Luwian ending (Melchert 2005a:451). It has been accordingly included in the list of Luwianisms of Melchert 2005a:451 and van den Hout 2007a:249.

[Zs.S.]