kbisñtãta

This lexeme is found in a grave inscription from Limyra.

[D.S.]

indecl. (?)

kbisñtãta

TL 111.3 (Limyra) TL 111.4 (Limyra)

Although nun͂tãta could be inflected in the nominative/accusative neuter plural (see Melchert 2000b:60f.), it is also possible that the -a is the default indeclinable form.

[D.S.]

The word kbisñtãta modifies sacrificial animals, i.e. kerut[a] ‘?’ and uwa ‘bulls’ within penalty formulas. It was quickly understood to be a number containing the element kbi ‘two’ and sñta ‘ten’, which is why it is sometimes translated as ‘twenty’ (Meriggi 1936b:267f., Laroche 1974b:146 n. 41, DLL:31). Neumann 2007a:162 suggests instead the number ‘twelve’, i.e. “2” and “10”, which is equally possible. Eichner 1992a:89f. leaves it open. Contextually speaking, a fee of 12 or 20 bovines is equally likely; cf. aitãta ‘eight(een)’ and nuñtãta ‘nine(teen)’. From an etymological perspective, sñta would come originally from the word for ‘hundred’, which makes a decad number for kbisñtãta more likely. Thus, we assign the number ‘twenty’.
Evidence from Greek grave inscriptions from Lycia and surroundings can be adduced to approximate how many bovines can be required as payment. The two following grave inscriptions from Cilica and Isauria stipulate: καὶ Θεοῖς καταχθονίοις ὁλοκαυστήσει βοῦς τελε[ί]ους δέκα (MonAnt 23.112 in Paribeni & Romanelli 1914a:154f.) ‘(If …), he will immolate to the gods below ten full-grown bovines.’, [ἀπ]οτεισάτω εἰς τὸν δῆ[μον δραχμὰ]ς πεντακοσίας [κ]α̣ὶ βο̣[ῦς λ]ε̣υκοὺς δέκα, μέλα[ν]ε̣ς̣ [δέκ]α (SEG 20.91) ‘(if) …, he will pay as a fee 500 drachmas to the people as well as ten white bovines (and) ten black (bovines) (thus overall 20)’. These comparisons would speak for a number of cattle between 10 and 20 regarding the punishment of violating a grave, whence the assignment of ‘20’ cannot be considered too high.

[D.S.]

For the first member of the compound see PAnat. *du̯o- / *du̯eh₂ ‘two’ and for the second Lyc. A sñta.