lihbeze

This lexeme is found in the inscription of the inscribed pillar of Xanthos, dated contextually to shortly after the ascension of Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE and stylistically to around 400 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).

[D.S.]

dat./loc. pl.

lihbeze

TL 44b.56 (Xanthos)

The word lihbeze occurs in a passage in which the Lycian king dedicates monuments first to the Storm-god, then to the god of war, to certain people, and finally to his soldiers. The passage cited below is discussed in Melchert 2002c:247f., Eichner 2005a:34 and Schürr 2012a:130. However, the division of the two sentences is interpreted differently here. Melchert and Eichner divide the two sentences right after ehbije, whereas it might be preferable to assume a syntactic boundary after hãtahe, the god of war, i.e. the first and only recipient of the statue. In this case, all human recipients would receive gifts not further specified.

se=tukedri : kerθθi : ade : urublijẽ hãtahe : tubehi : prñnezi : se=lihbeze : eh[b]ije : se=dewẽ : zxxaza : se=ñtuweriha : ade (TL 44b.55-57)

‘He made in Kerdisos a statue as monument in (honour) of the god of war. For the tubehi household and his lihbeze and for the fighters and the auxiliary troops he made a gift.’

Despite differences regarding the clausal boundaries, scholars agree that lihbeze refers to people who are included as recipients of a dedication (likewise Neumann 2007a:186f.). Eichner 2005a:34 n. 188 translates lihbeze as ‘friends, companions’ suggesting an etymological connection with Hitt. līšā(i)-^(mi) ‘to collect’ (via a verbal abstract noun *lēswar > Lyc. A *lihba- ‘collection, choice’. Despite the attractiveness of his etymology, the meaning posited by Eichner cannot be confirmed by this single example. Shevoroshkin 1971a:234 suggests an etymological connection with Hitt. lipšā(i)-^(mi), which he translates as ‘to scrub off’ and interprets Lyc. A lihbeze as ‘bodyguards’. Although the meaning of the Hittite word is not assured (cf. CHD L-N:71), the phonological development required to account for the differences between the two cognates (e.g. metathesis) is highly doubtful. Especially since the -p- in Hittite lipšā(i)-^(mi) should be voiceless beside /s/, a voiceless labial stop is not reconcilable with the Lycian voiced bilabial fricative b.

[D.S.]

Melchert (DLL:36) points out rightly that the stem of the noun lihbeze is not assured based on this single attestation. It could be a formation in -eze/i- (thus Schürr 2012a:130), in -aza- (with persisting vowel harmony), or in -eze-. The exact stem formation should be left open until further evidence emerges.

[D.S.]

For a tentative etymological connection with Hitt. līšā(i)-^(mi) ‘to collect’, see Eichner 2005a:34 n. 188 and the discussion under meaning.

[D.S.]