ισαλαβρε

Eteocretan

Alternative form

• ισαλαβρετ (isalabret), ισαλαβρ- (isalabr-) (alt. bracketing)
• ισαλυρια (isaluria)

Phrase

ισαλαβρε (isalabre)

1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:
   1. cheese
   2. the twelve (magistrates in rule of Dreros)

Quotations

• 7th c. BCE, DRE 1.1–2:

  [...] .ρμαϝ | ετ | ισαλαβρετκομν
  [...] δ | μεν | ιναι | ισαλυρια | λμο

Notes

1. The meaning “cheese” is presumed by accepting the following three lines of DRE 1 as the Greek translation of the Eteocretan inscription:

   [....] τοντυρονμηατοδοιεϝαδ
   ετυρο [...] μυναοδμεν οιυ [
   [...] ματριταια [.......]

   and by corresponding ετ ισαλαβρετ with τον τυρον and ισαλυρια with τυρο, identified with τυρός (turós, “cheese”). This interpretation is not without its flaws.

2. The meaning “the twelve (men)” is presumed due to the vicinity of ιναι which possibly means “city, polis” and by comparison with other contemporary Greek-language inscriptions in Dreros which mention “the twelve of the city”.
3. Furthermore, a source denying the Eteocretan nature of the passage prefers to interpret is as Dorian Greek, as follows:

   Ἕρμαϝ’ ἔτ Ἰσαλ(έ) ἀβρέ,
   κομμ’ [ὁ]δ(ε) μὲν ἐ͂ναι Ἰσαλυρια.

   Hérmaw’ ét Isal(é) abré,
   komm’ [ho]d(e) mèn ênai Isaluria.

   O Hermes, (who art) also Isalos and graceful,
   I adorn so that the Isalyria may take place

   The divine epithet ισαλος is identified with ἴξαλος (íxalos), the Homeric epithet for the buck or goat, while ισαλυρια is assumed to be a corradical local festivity dedicated to goats.

Bibliography

• Duhoux, Yves (1982) L'étéocrétois. Les textes — la langue (in French), Amsterdam: J. C. Gieben, →ISBN
• Effenterre, Henri van (1946) “Une bilingue étéocrétoise?”, in Revue de Philologie (in French), number 20, pages 131–8
• Georgiev, Vladimir (1947) “Une inscription prétendue étéocrétoise”, in Revue de Philologie (in French), number 21, pages 132–140