elpetu
2Attestations
OA-LitOA-Lit: Old Assyrian literary texts — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) ina el-pé-tem rubassa AML, 162: 7 SEAL “her (Lamaštu's) lair is in the halfa grass”. new
SBSB: Standard Babylonian (ca. 1000–0 BCE) — new attestation (not in AHw/CAD) [muṣaʾʾirāna ar]raqa ša ina muḫḫi NÚMUN izzizzu Sakikkû XXIX 5 “[a ve]ry green [frog,] which stands on halfa grass”. Corresponds to 11f. in Heeßel 2000. Cf. similar also Sakikkû XXIX 22′ (see Schmidtchen 2025, 183 ms. p). new
Discussion
Identifying the plant as alfalfa in the CDA seems unlikely, at least with regard to elpet mê burki, since alfalfa cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions (even though it can grow along artificial watercourses on dikes or dams). Given that alfalfa (cf. also aspastu) is an excellent forage plant, it would also be surprising if there were not more sources indicating this use. The attested use of elpetu for basket weaving also seems to rule out an identification with alfalfa, since it is known that alfalfa is not used at all for basket making. Accordingly, the identification as alfa (or halfa) grass (Desmostachya bipinnata) seems more likely for the time being. Note further the etymological connections to Arab. ḥalfa already hinted at in CAD E 109 s.v. elpetu. Since the possible plant designation meburku in SB sources is usually found in lexical texts as a folk etymology for elpetu (or, in one instance, for @akk {urbatu}—reeds), its meaning as “Halfa grass”—aside from elpetu —remains uncertain for sources dating from after the Old Akkadian period.