tisard(i)-

This lexeme is attested on a terracotta vase found in a chamber tomb in the necropolis at Sardis.

[D.S.]

acc. sg.

tisarḍν

LW 30.1 (Sardis)

Meriggi 1935a:110 recognized that in the inscription the object itself, i.e. the vase, is speaking in the 1^st person singular ẽmν tisardν ‘my tisardν’, and suggests tentatively that tisardν means ‘fabrication’ (thus also Meriggi 1963a:26, outdated Brandenstein 1929a:294). Gusmani 1964a:213 claims instead that tisardν should mean ‘content’, since it is a vase that was filled with something:

             titis=in : ẽmν : tisardν : fapil ataλ : kitwaλ (LW 30.1-2)

             ‘Titis gave my content(?) to Atas, the kitwas (or to Father Kitwas?).’

His semantic assignment is followed by Dusinberre 2003a:228. From an etymological point of view, the structure of the word resembles that of Lyc. A tisẽne/i- ‘(a sarcophagus)’ and the root of Luw. tiššā(i)-. The funerary contexts of both Lycian and Lydian words would further support an etymological connection, and since the vase was found in the tomb of the deceased, it is also possible that the recipient ataλ kitwaλ is a deity. On the other hand, from the etymological perspective with the Luwian root tišš-, Meriggi’s meaning ‘fabrication’ or perhaps ‘mold, shape’ may become justified. More evidence is needed to be absolutely certain about the meaning.

[D.S.]

On account of the syncope in the ending, the word is barytone and belongs to the paradigm of i-mutation stems (see Sasseville 2017a).

[D.S.]

For the lemma head see Lyd. *tis-.