Editing Anatolian Languages (section)

== Lycian B (Milyan; 500-200 BCE) ==
<u>Lycian B</u>, also known as <u>Milyan</u> (previously <u>Lycian 2)</u>, is an extinct <u>Anatolian</u> language, attested from three inscriptions: two poems on the ''Xanthian Stele'', and another inscription on a sarcophagus. All known 'Milyan' language inscriptions come from the near-coastal cities of '''Xanthos''' and '''Antiphellos''', and are not associated with the <u>Milyae</u> (inhabitants of <u>Milyas</u>, an isolated, inland part of <u>Lycia</u>) for whom they were initially named. Regardless of the name used, the consensus view is that Milyan/Lycian B is a '''dialect''' of Lycian. '''Diether Schürr''' characterizes <u>Lycian B</u> as "poetical Lycian, with some conservative traits, a few idiosyncratic developments, and some elements that it shares with <u>Carian</u>."

On the Xanthan stele, there are two poems; the first, on the northern side, is 34 lines in length. Its '''leitmotiv''' seems to be how the <u>Lycian</u> king '''Kheriga''' received his orders for military activities as well as divine help from the gods, especially from '''Natri''' (<u>Lycian</u> '''Apollo''') and the weather god '''Trqqiz''' ('''Tarḫunz'''). Below the last '''strophe''' there is an empty space, which shows that the poem is complete and that the text on the west side of the stele is a separate poem.

The west side has 71 engraved lines, but the text is not complete: it breaks off in the middle of the 23rd strophe. This seems to be due to miscalculation of the engraver, who also made the mistake to engrave one strophe twice. This poem also relates to Kheriga and Trqqiz, but Natri is absent and instead the '''Nymphs of <u>Phellos</u>''' (a city in Lycia) are mentioned. Some entity named '''Muni''' is also named, possibly the widow of Kheriga who ordered the poem to be written'''. Dieter Schürr''' suspects that the central theme of the poem may be the legitimization of '''Muni's''' regency, perhaps after her husband's death or killing.

The third text is the ''Pixre Poem'' on a grave monument from Antiphellos. Its nine lines make up thirteen strophes; '''Pixre''' is supposedly the name of a <u>Lycian</u> poet buried there, who in the inscription tells of the nymphs who acted as his '''Muses'''. In <u>Greek</u> and <u>Roman</u> mythology, nymphs are minor gods or spirits of nature, often associated with specific features like rivers, mountains, trees, and seas. They were believed to inhabit and personify the vital essence of these natural places.