ܐܪܕܒܐ [?] ʾrdbʾ ἀρτάβη Egyptian measure
Allotrope: ܐܪܛܒܐ ʾrṭbʾ
Measure of capacity corresponding to 30 qa (29,1 l). The etymon is debated; the Iranian origin is defended by Lagarde, Schaeder (1930, 68 n. 1), Schmitt (1970, 102) and Hinz (1975, 204), who posits OP *r̥dβa-, form restored on the basis of Demotic Egyptian ʾrdb; Akkad. ardabu (524/3 BC; see CAD 1/2, 241; AHw 1, 66); Elam. irtiba (between 510 and 494 BC); Off. Aram. ʾrdb (fifth cent. BC); Gr. ἀρτάβη (fifth cent. BC); Arm. ardu a measure (see Hübschmann AG 111, no. 73, who tentatively compares the OP word reflected in Gr. ἀρτάβη and Arab. ardab; see also Arm. artabos id., borrowed from Gr. ἀρτάβη, according to Hübschmann AG 342, no. 45) etc.; these forms are thoroughly examined by Schmitt 1971, 100–102; for Off. Aram. cf. Driver 1957, 68. The name of this measure is also attested in NP irdabb an Egyptian measure equal to 24 sā’ (Steingass 35). Hinz (1975, 204 f.; 1973, 33) reports that G.G. Cameron proposes to relate this word with Av. ərəδβa-, ərəduua- "hochgereckt". Frisk (s.v. ἀρτάβη), on the contrary, believes that it is an originally Egyptian word: “Name eines persischen und ägyptischen Masses [...] Das Wort ist wahrscheinlich ägyptischen Ursprungs (vgl. Hultsch P.-W. s.v.)”; the same opinion is expressed in PS Suppl. 34. Note also that the allotrope ʾrṭbʾ seems rather a loanword from Greek (Schmitt 1971, 100) ● ʾrdbʾ EN 58, 47; BA 1456; BB 283, 20; ʾrṭbʾ Epiph 4, 57; 40, 22; Jes 5, 10; Dn 14, 2; Cyr 228, 1 ◆ LS 46b; 48a; Lagarde GA 17, 32 and p. 198; Hinz 1973, 33 and 101