Why do I get an incorrect error "ORA-01775: looping chain of synonyms", when the base table does not existing?
This happens when you have a "dangling" synonym, because it points to itself.

For example:

SQL&gt; create table blah ( a number );

Table created.

SQL&gt; create public synonym blah for blah;

Synonym created.

SQL&gt; drop table blah;

Table dropped.

SQL&gt; select * from blah;
select * from blah
              *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-01775: looping chain of synonyms


SQL&gt;