arm̃pa-

This lexeme is attested on the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE. It is also attested as a personal name in the Lycian A inscription TL 69.

[D.S.]

The word arm̃pã is the direct object of the verb tewe-^(ti) ‘to see, to encounter (?)’ and takes as an attribute the word uguwãmã ‘?’. The context does not provide any hint regarding the semantics of arm̃pã. However, it has been noticed in the literature that Lyc. B arm̃pa- equates phonologically with Hitt. ^GIŠarimpa- c. (Neumann 2007a:20, Schürr 2016d:156). Considering the unusual shape of the word in either language, they are very likely cognates. Groddek 2002c:126-128 offers a philological analysis of the Hittite word ^GIŠarimpa- and assigns the meaning ‘support, column, pillar’. The Hittite word can occur as an epithet of the Hittite king, i.e. “pillar of the lands” ([LUGAL-uš utne]andan arimpaš MUNUS.LUGAL-ša KUB 12.43 6’), which means that the king “supports” the lands. Its use as a royal epithet would explain why Lyc. arm̃pa- is also found as a personal name (TL 69) (likewise Schürr 2014a:744 n. 3).

Regarding the meaning of Lyc. B arm̃pa-, we may be able to glean a little more from its wider context. The passage in which it occurs concerns different honorable things belonging to king Gergis and pertaining, among others, to statues (tukadrala), whence it seems very probable that arm̃pa- refers to the inscribed pillar itself, on which the inscription TL 44 is carved, supporting the funerary chamber and the statues on top it. Further evidence can be gained from the derivative arm̃paime/i-. Shevoroshkin 2011b:148f. suggests that arm̃pa- is a god, which does not contribute to the understanding of the context. Moreover, that interpretation would leave the derivatives arm̃paime/i- and rm̃pala- in the same context unexplained.

[D.S.]

I. Arm̃palitxa- (PN) (cf. DLL:92, Neumann 2007a:20f., Schürr 2016d:156)

1. arm̃paime/i-
2. rm̃pala-

The Hittite word ^GIŠarimpa- c. ‘(wooden) pillar/column’ as well as the related ^GIŠirimpit- n. ‘cedar wood’ are borrowed ultimately from Akkadian erēnu ‘cedar wood’ and Sumerian ERIN ‘id.’ (Richter 2012a:98f. with further literature). Whether they were borrowed  through Hurrian or not, is not important for the present discussion (cf. Richter ibid.). Based on the Lycian B data, it appears that the loanword Hitt. ^GIŠarimpa- was passed  further into Western Anatolia already in the 2^nd millennium BCE. Its survival in Lycian poetry of the classical period (5th century BCE) as arm̃pa- is remarkable.

[D.S.]

HW ^{(2nd ed.)} A:298, Groddek 2002c:126-128