Lycian Inscriptions of Letoon

Inscription N 311

It is on a corner fragment of a stone block, which is thought to be a part of a statue base dedicated to Artemis by Erbbina (Arbinas), the dynast of Xanthos. The inscription is also called “Erbbina I” since it was one of the two dedication inscriptions of Erbbina found in Letoon. It is a Lycian-Greek bilingual inscription. The 2‑line Lycian text is on the left side and an 8‑line Greek text on the right side.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
1 [erb]bina(j)=ẽne ubete xruwata ertẽmi
2 [xer]igah tideimi se(j)=upẽneh

Translation (based on Neumann, 1979):
Erbbina (Arbinas), the son of Xeriga (Gergis) and Upẽni, dedicated it (as) an offering to Ertẽmi (Artemis).

Inscription N 312

It is a Greek-Lycian bilingual inscription that is engraved on an orthostat (or statue base) that was used in a late period wall. A 3-line Greek text is followed by a 3-line Lycian one.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
4 ñtemuxlida krbbe[s?]eh
5 zemuris ertemi
6 xruwata

Translation (based on Merlin & Pisaniello, 2019):
Ñtemuxlida, (son) of Krbbe[s]e, of Limyra, votive offerings for Artemis.
(Translation of Greek text: Demoklides, (son) of Therbesis, of Limyra, for good luck, dedicated to Artemis.)

Inscription N 318

It is a dedication inscription on a large stone block that was reused as a statue base, and a Greek inscription engraved on the left side in a later period.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
1 [……]mis tuwete arssãma
2 [….]emleh tideimi trm̃mili
3 [….]ta..ti pdde=ñne wawu
4 uhazata se=ñne ãxrahis
5 [……]is
6 [ñt]e=ije m̃meijeti
7 [……]xθθanahi
8 [puhtti](j)=ene

Inscription N 319

It is a Lycian – Aramaic bilingual text on a fragment of a stone block. On one side of the stone, only a few Lycian letters of 4 lines remain. On the other side, there is a 5-line Aramaic text fragment.

Transliteration (Christiansen, 2019):
1 ḥḷ[… …]
2 ij[… …]
3 eb[… …]
4 d[… …]

Translation:
Since there is only a few letters, no translation is possible.
(Aramaic text (translated from Dupont-Sommer, 1979): 1 … … 2 he crossed the sea of .[ … 3 it pleased the citizen[s of … 4 the citizens of Pinara . [… 5 and …. [… )

Inscription N 320

It is on a Lycian-Greek-Aramaic trilingual stele found in Letoon, the so-called Trilingual Inscription of Letoon. The Lycian (41 lines) and Greek (35 lines) texts are similar, and the Aramaic (27 lines) text is a summary of these texts.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
1 ẽke: trm̃misñ: xssaθrapazate: pig-
2 esere: katamlah: tideimi: s=ẽ=ñne=ñ-
3 te=pddẽ=hadẽ: trm̃mile: pddẽnehm̃m-
4 is: ijeru: se=natrbbijẽmi: se(j)=arñ-
5 na: asaxlazu: erttimeli: me=hñti=t-
6 ubedẽ: arus: se(j)=epewẽtlm̃mẽi: arñ-
7 nãi: m̃maitẽ: kumezijẽ: θθẽ: xñtawa-
8 ti: xbidẽñni: se(j)=arKKazuma: xñta-
9 wati: s=ẽ=ñn=aitẽ: kumazu: mahãna: eb-
10 ette: eseimiju: qñturahahñ: tide-
11 imi: se=de: eseimijaje: xuwati=ti: s-
12 e=i pijẽtẽ: arawã: ehbijẽ: esi=ti: s=e-
13 d=eli=ñtãtẽ: teteri: se(j)=epewẽtlm̃-
14 mẽi: hrm̃mada: ttaraha: me=xbaitẽ: z-
15 ã: ese=xesñtedi: qñtati: se=pigrẽi:
16 sẽ=ñte=ñte=km̃mẽ: se(j)=ẽti: θθẽ: sttat-
17 i=teli: se=t=ahñtãi xñtawatehi: xb-
18 idẽñnehi: se(j)=arKKazumahi: se=i=p
19 ibiti: uhazata: ada: HOO: ẽti: tlla-
20 xñta: arñna: se=sm̃mati: xddazas: ep-
21 i=de arawa: hãti km̃mẽtis: me=i=pibi-
22 ti: sixlas: se=wa(j)=aitẽ: kumaha: ẽti
23 sttali: ppuweti: km̃mẽ: ebehi: xñta-
24 wataha: xbidẽñnaha: se=rKKazuma-
25 ha: me=ije=sitẽni=ti: hlm̃mipijata
26 m=ede=te=wẽ: kumezidi: nuredi: nure-
27 di: arã: kumehedi: se=uhazata: uwad-
28 i: xñtawati: xbidẽñni: se(j)=erKKaz-
29 uma: me=kumezidi: seimija: se=de: se-
30 imijaje: xuwati=ti: se=i(j)=ehbij(a)=ai-
31 tẽ: tasa: mere: ebette: teteri: arñn-
32 as: se(j)=epewẽtlm̃mẽi: arñnãi: me=t=e-
33 pi=tuwẽti: mara: ebeija: ẽti: sttal-
34 i: ppuwẽti=mẽ: ebehi: se=we=ne: xttad-
35 i: tike: ebi=ne=ñtewẽ: mahãna: ebett-
36 e: ebi=ne: ñtewẽ: kumazi: ebehi: xtta-
37 de=me(j)=ẽ: tike: me=pddẽ: mahãna: sm̃ma-
38 ti: ebette: se(j)=ẽni: qlahi: ebijehi
39 pñtrẽñni: se=tideime: ehbije: se(j)=
40 elijãna: pigesereje: me=i(j)=eseri=
41 hhati: me=hriqla: asñne: pzziti=ti

Translation (Bryce, 1986):
When Pigesere (= Pixodaros), son of Katamla (= Hekatomnos), was satrap of Trm̃misa (= Lycia) and appointed Iera and Natrbbiyẽmi commissioners for the Trm̃mili (= Lycians), and Erttimeli as governor of Arñna (= Xanthos), the citizens and perioikoi of Arñna determined to establish an altar for the Lord of Kaunos and for the Lord Arkazuma. And they made Eseimiya (= Simias), son of Qñturaha, priest for these gods, and (subsequently) whoever succeeds Eseimiya; and they gave to him/them exemption from property dues; and there the townspeople and perioikoi set aside(?) property belonging to the town; (and they) resumed(??) (the land) which Khesñtedi and Piqrẽi till; and whatever is erected and attached(?) there (will become the property?) of the Lord of Kaunos and Arkazuma. And Arñna will give each year x adas (as) payment and will be responsible(?) (for ensuring that) all slaves who are subsequently enfranchised there will give shekels (one shekel apiece?). And they further made all that is inscribed(?) on this stele sacred to the Lord of Kaunos and to Arkazuma. (And from) whatever tribute(??) is gathered(???) here medetewẽ(?) one will duly make sacrifice monthly with a victim and yearly with an ox to the Lord of Kaunas and to Arkazuma; (and) Seimiya (is the one who) will make sacrifice, and (subsequently) whoever succeeds Seimiya. And the townspeople of Arñna and the perioikoi of Arñna made an oath for these regulations, and they set up all these regulations that are inscribed(?) on this stele; and furthermore, one will not remove (i.e., erase? alter?) anything herewithin (pertaining) either to these gods or to this priest. Whoever removes (i.e., erases? alters?) anything will be answerable before these gods and the pñtrẽñni mother of this sanctuary(?) and her children and the nymphs. (Lines 40-41 are unintelligible.)

Greek text (translated from Metzger, 1979): Pixodaros, son of Hecatomnos, having become satrap of Lycia, established as archons of Lycia, Hieron and Apollodotos and as governor of Xanthos, Artemelis. The Xanthians and their Perioeci have decreed to erect an altar in honour of Basileus Kaunius and Arkesimas and they have chosen as priest Simias, son of Kondorasis, and, in the course of time, the one who will be closest to Simias, and they have granted him, on all his goods, exemption from taxes and the city has given the land which Kesindelis and Pigres had worked and all that adjoins this land and the dwellings in full ownership to Basileus Kaunius and Arkesimas and three half-minae will be paid each year on behalf of the city and all those who are freed will pay the god two drachmas and all that is inscribed on the stele has been consecrated to belong in its entirety to Basileus Kaunius and Arkesimas and, from all the resources that will arise from it, a sheep will be sacrificed each noumenia and an ox each year and the The Xanthians and their Periaeci have sworn to do exactly for these gods and for their priest, all that is recorded on the stele, to take nothing away from it and to allow no one to do so. Whoever takes anything away, let him be guilty before these gods, before Leto, her descendants, and the Nymphs. Let Pixodaros have the upper hand in these decisions.

Aramaic text (translated from Dupont-Sommer, 1979): In the month of Siwan in the first year of King Artaxerxes, in the citadel of Orna, Pixôda[ro], son of Katomnô, the satrap who (governs) in Caria and (in) Lycia, said: The citizens of Orna have planned to make a sanctuary (?) for the King, the God of Caunos, and (for) his Companion. And they have made Simias, son of Koddôrasi, priest. And there is a domain that the citizens of Orna have given to the King, the God. And year by year, on behalf of the city, (are) given in silver a [mina] and a half (mina). The said priest sacrifices at the beginning of the month a sheep to the King, the God, and he immolates (?) year by year 1 ox. And the said domain is freed, (the domain that is) his. This law, he (Pixôdaro) (has) written, (he) who is master (of the decision). Moreover, if ever someone takes (something) away from the King the God or from the priest (then) existing, (let this someone), by the King the God and (by) his Companion, (be) taken away! And, by the God, (by) Lâtô, (by) Artemis, (by) Hšatrapati, and (by) other (divinities), (let this) someone (be) taken away! And let these gods demand (expiation) from him!

Inscription N 324 and N 325

Both inscriptions were on the same statue base, which is dedicated by Erbbina (Arbinas), just like N 321, so it’s called Erbbina II. The statue base was used as spolia in later periods, and there were several fragments of it found during the excavations. One large and one narrow side are engraved in Lycian, and the other large and narrow sides are in Greek. The biggest part of the stone bears the Greek text on the large face and the Lycian text (N 324) on the narrow face. Some fragments belonging to completely shattered Lycian text (N 325) on the other large face were found in later years.

Transliteration:
N 324 (on the narrow side) (Melchert, 2001):
1 [………..]epi: tuked[ri….]
2 […..kupr]lli: ade=ti: xux[a…]
3 [……]ẽti: atrã: pude: erb[bina]
4 [……]m=ẽne=hm̃mẽti: x{:}ahad[i…..]
6 [….p]inale: ije=d=ñne[…….]
7 [erbb]ina: ada=tija: se=xl[……]
8 [….]jẽ: nelezẽ: trqqñ[t…..]
9 [esẽ]nemladi: erbbinã: […….]
10 […]m=ẽne=hm̃mẽti: xahadi [……]
11 [..]de: hrkkeledi: ebe[…….]
12 [..]ate=tisñ: trbbeli[…….]
13 [ebẽ]ñnẽ: m=ẽne=hri=tubedẽ: h[…..]
14 [ma]rtti: mereheje: xñtla[…….]
15 [pu]htti(j)=ẽne=de: ẽti: uhi[……]bas
16 [u]hazata: se=de=ñte: muha[.. kum]ezi-
17 di: ebeis: se=te=(e)ne=i: sẽn[….]θθi
18 [..]jẽ: terihe: me=ti=pe=w[ẽ……]
19 […]ije: pzziti=(i)tehi: t[……..]
20 […]ehi: me=(e)de=te=wẽ=sm̃mati [………-]
21 ñ.. se=(e)xburahi: teteri: el[i………]
22 merehi: pri=de: ñta=tuwa[………]
23 ebettehi: arawadi: se=i [……….]
24 tike=terihe: me=t(e)=epi=tere[………..]
25 se=de=hẽkene: ñtẽmlẽ=tadi: [………..]
26 tib(e)=ẽne: medije: tere: ter[e……….]
27 tibe=ti=pe=wẽ=pijeti=tdi: e[…………]
28 tike: terihe: se=we=hri=xladi […………]
29 [m]e=t(e)=ep[i=te]re: zedi=ti: er[bbina…….]
30 [.]ddu[…………………………]

N 325 (on the large side) (Bousquet, 1992):
 1 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …]: ebi [ … …pud
 2 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … ]li : […]tix[. ]mi : ẽn
 3 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …] pssebet
 4 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …]ri : tu[ke]dri: eb
 5 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …E]rtẽm[i: …]: epu
 6 [… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …]im[..]ạ̃ṇ̃: wawa
 7 [… … … … … … … … …]ị : ebẽ [..8-9 chr...]θθã: [. ]xnahetub
 8 [… …]be[… … … … … … …]: prñneẓị: [….]i: […] ttẽti [.] ẽti
 9 [… …]iti[.]: se[.]ñt[ … … e]beis: huwedri[s]: hride: hlaw[…]i
10 [… …]añtạzeitiẹ[… … …]ihba[.]a: se [….]da[ .. ]ima: se[..]di
11 [Erbbi]nahe: [set]idei[mẽ …] Erḅ[bina … … … ]θ̣urtt[…]xẽne
12 [… m]ẹ̃nehm̃mẽti : x[ahadi … … … … … ]ẽni[ … … ]epide

The fragments that belong to N 324 and N 325 (their positions could not be determined.) (Bousquet, 1992):
Fragment a (narrow face?):
1 –]u: a[–
2 –e]hbi: dde[–
3 –]ti: mene[–
4 –]zadãke[–
5 –]he: xñta[wata? –
6 –]etẽ: pi[–
7 –]i: hã[–

Fragment b (large face?):
1 –]i: mẹ[–
2 –]upije: [–
3 –]: meiḍ[–
4 –]ịẹ[–

Fragment c (left edge):
1 ma[–
2 xñ[ta –?
3 s[–

Fragment d:
1 –]ḍde: [–
bottom vacat

Fragment e:
1 –]ẹḍ[–
2 –]idehạ[–
bottom vacat

Fragment f:
1 –]ḥ[–
2 –]eñt[–
3 –]tisñ[–

Fragment g:
1 –]ẹt[–
2 –]ube[te? –
3 –]hh[–

Fragment h:
1 –]ẹñ[–
2 –]ta: [–

Fragment j:
1 –]: [–
2 –]be[–

Fragment k:
1 –].[–
2 –]dde[–
3 –]ijeh[–
4 –]: seb[–

Fragment l:
1 –].e[–

Fragment m (right edge):
1 –]ẹ (vacat)
2–]i (vacat)

Inscription N 326

It is on a wider lateral face of a stone block, which was used as a statue base in a later period. The upper two-thirds of the face were rasped during reuse, and only the last two lines are readable at the bottom.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
1 ñte=ije: m̃mijeti: nixede
2 xθθanahi: puhtti=(e)ne=de

Inscription N 327

It is on two joining pieces of limestone found in Letoon. The original shape and purpose of the stone are unknown.

Transliteration (Melchert, 2001):
1 […]tr.ẽñni […]
2 […]laxati: ehbi Kbada alade[ ]
3 […] tideimi ẽmi


References:

Bousquet, J. 1992. ‘Les inscriptions du Létôon en l’honneur d’Arbinas et l’épigramme grecque de la stèle de Xanthos’, in Fouilles de Xanthos 9, ed. H. Metzger, 155-199.
Bourgarel A. & H. Metzger. 1992. ‘Les deux bases d’Arbinas’, in Fouilles de Xanthos 9, ed. H. Metzger, 149-154.
Bryce, T. 1986. Lycians in Literary and Epigraphic Sources, Kopenhagen.
Christiansen, B. 2019. ‘Editions of Lycian Inscriptions not Included in Melchert’s Corpus from 2001’, in Luwic dialects and Anatolian – Inheritance and diffusion, eds. I. X. Adiego et al., 65-134.
Dupont-Sommer, A. 1979. ‘L’inscription araméenne’, in Fouilles de Xanthos 6 – La stèle trilingue du Letôon, 129-178.
Kim, P. E. 2024. ‘Female bodies and dynastic legitimacy in the Nereid Monument at Xanthos’, Anatolian Studies 2024, 1-26.
Melchert, H. C. 2001. LycianCorpus.pdf at www.linguistics.ucla.edu/people/Melchert
Merlin S. & V. Pisaniello. 2019. ‘Linguistic Strategies in Filiation Formulas: Data from Lycian-Greek Bilingual Texts’, Incontri Linguistici 42, 89-108
Metzger, H. 1979. ‘L’inscription grecque’, in Fouilles de Xanthos 6 – La stèle trilingue du Letôon, 29-48.
Neumann, G. 1979. Neufunde lykischer Inschriften seit 1901, (Denkschr. ÖAW, phil.-hist. Kl. 135), Wien.

Image Sources:
A. Bourgarel & H. Metzger, 1992
J. Bousquet, 1992
B. Christiansen, 2019
Bora Bilgin, 2022
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022
P. E. Kim, 2024