/karmali-^(ti)/, (ASCIA)ka+ra/i-ma-li-

This hapax is attested in a single inscription from Karkamiš, dating to the 10^th century BCE.

[A.P.]

3sg. pret. act.

/karmalitta/

(ASCIA)ka+ra/i-ma-li-ta

KARKAMIŠ A1a, §3 (Karkamiš)

[A.P.]

The word was first thought to represent a noun meaning ‘axe’ by Gelb 1931a:65, for which now see HLuw. /naPa-/ ‘axe’. Gelb was able to identify the meaning of the logogram ASCIA to general acceptance because of its very pictographic nature (cf. e.g. Laroche 1960c:148). That the present word represents a verb instead of a noun was realised by Hrozný 1933a:196 and Meriggi 1934a:130, the latter of whom also suggested tentatively the meaning ‘to hack (to pieces)’ (“zerhauen”).Hrozný translated it as ‘to slaughter’ (“abattre (avec une hache)”). His interpretation has been followed by scholars ever since, see e.g. Starke 1990a:340f., HED K:90f., HEG I-K:512 etc. In KARKAMIŠ A1a, §3, the verb occurs preceded by /ahha/ ‘away’, probably denoting the complete destruction: a-wa/i [h]a-ta-[n]í^?-ma-sa (*349)sà-mara/i-ka-wa/i-ní-na(URBS) (DEUS)TONITRUS-za-na ARHA (ASCIA)ka+ra/i-ma-li-ta, approx. /a=wa Hattanimas Smarikkawannin Tarhunzan ahha karmalitta/, meaning ‘Hattanima hacked to pieces the (statue of the storm-god) Tarhunza of Ismerikka’ (cf. Hawkins 2000a:88f.).

[AH.B.]

The verb is assumed to represent a stem in /-i-^(ti)/, deriving from an otherwise unattested noun */karmal(a)-/ ‘axe’ vel sim., see Sasseville 2021a:142.Note that HLuw. has apparently replaced that word with /naPa-/ ‘axe’. See also CLuw. karmalašša-⁽ⁱ⁾ for more literature.

[AH.B.]