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Kurzbeschreibung |
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The topics addressed in this fragment of bird oracles cannot be determined with precision. The first oracle was conducted by the augur Mašduriandu, and its introductory question refers to a ‘wish of the Queen.’ This section also refers to an angry deity, to be perhaps identified as Ištar of Lawazantiya, who is mentioned in the following oracle. The second oracle also mentions the ‘seeress’ (MUNUSENSI), possibly an expert in dream interpretation (see Historical context).
Mašduriandu and the MUNUSENSI also appear in the fragment CTH 573.96; Although the scripts in the two tablets appear similar, variations in handwriting (such as the form of specific signs) preclude establishing an indirect join between them.
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Texte |
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Literaturauszug aus der Konkordanz |
- Y. Sakuma, Diss., 2009: II 155-159
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Inhaltsübersicht |
| Abschnitt 1ID=1 | §1´. Oracle by Mašduriandu, concerning the ‘wish of the Queen’ |
| Abschnitt 2ID=2 | §2´. Oracle: mentioning Ištar of Lawazantiya, the Queen and the seeress | |
History of publication |
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Handcopy: A. Walther (KUB 16, Walther A. 1926a).
Edition: Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 155-159.
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Tablet characteristics |
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Fragment with the central portion of approximately twenty lines of text, divided into two separate paragraphs. It remains uncertain whether the tablet was single- or two-columned.
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Palaeography and handwriting |
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NS (jh.); diagnostic signs: DA, ḪAR, IK, KI (IIIc), LI, TAR, URU.
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Linguistic characteristics |
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Note the unusual spelling e-re-e-er in line 8´, which is typically spelled e-re-er in both bird oracle texts and other contexts. Given that the 3rd person pl. pret. ending is consistently attested with a non-plene -e- in both MS and NS Hittite texts, Kloekhorst A. 2014a, 51–52, briefly discussed whether the identity of this form with the 3pl. pret. of ar-/er- ‘to arrive’ is warranted. Since in the standard bird oracle formulary the phrase anda erer is well attested (‘they arrived together; they united’), likely meaning ‘they joined in flight’ vel sim., the interpretation of the verb appears secure, thus this isolated spelling should be considered an outlier.
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Historical context |
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The augur Mašduriandu appears in a few other oracle texts other than KUB 16.74: bird oracles KUB 49.9, KUB 49.32, KUB 49.48, mixed oracles KUB 5.24+, KUB 16.31+ (attestations after Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 710).
For an overview on the MUNUSENSI, see Warbinek L. 2019c with literature. Further discussion of this figure in the context of oracle inquiries can be found in our edition of CTH 573.96.
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