Ancient Greek dialect spoken in Arcadia and Cyprus
Arcadocypriot , orsouthern Achaean , was anancient Greek dialect spoken inArcadia (the centralPeloponnese ) andCyprus . Its resemblance toMycenaean Greek , as it is known from theLinear B corpus, indicates that they are closely related to it, and belong to the same dialect group, known as Achaean.[ 3]
In Cyprus the dialect was written solely using theCypriot syllabary . The most extensive surviving text of the dialect is theIdalion Tablet .[ 4] Hesychius (probably 5th century AD).
The prevailing dialect spoken in southern Greece (including Achaea, the Argolid, Laconia, Crete, and Rhodes) at the end of the Bronze Age, was Proto-Arcadocypriot.[ 5] [ 3] Pausanias reported:
Agapenor , the son ofAncaeus , the son ofLycurgus , who was king afterEchemus , led theArcadians toTroy . After the capture of Troy the storm that overtook the Greeks on their return home carried Agapenor and the Arcadian fleet to Cyprus, and so Agapenor became the founder ofPaphos , and built the sanctuary of Aphrodite atPalaepaphos (Old Paphos).[ 6]
The establishment happened before 1100 BC. With the arrival of Dorians in the Peloponnese, a part of the population moved to Cyprus, and the rest was limited to the Arcadian mountains.
According to John T. Hooker, the preferable explanation for the general historico-linguistic picture is that:[ 7]
... in theBronze Age , at the time of the great Mycenaean expansion, a dialect of a high degree of uniformity was spoken both in Cyprus and in the Peloponnese but that at some subsequent epoch the speakers ofWest Greek intruded upon the Peloponnese and occupied the coastal states, but made no significant inroads into Arcadia.
After the collapse of theMycenaean world, communication ended, and Cypriot was differentiated from Arcadian. It was written until the 3rd century BC using theCypriot syllabary .[ 1] [ 8] [ 9]
Tsan was a letter in use only in Arcadia until around the 6th century BC. Arcadocypriot kept many characteristics of Mycenaean, lost early in the development of Attic and Ionic, such as the/w/ sound (digamma ).
Arcadian word English transliteration Meaning Other Greek dialects ἀμφιδεκάτη amphidekatê 21st of the monthἡ μετὰ εἰκάδα ἡμέρα (ampheikas )(dekatê tenth) ἄνωδα anôda up-side Atticἄνωθε ἄρμωλα armôla ἀρμώμαλα food seasoning Atticἀρτύματα ἀρτύω ἄσιστος asistos nearest Atticἄγχιστος δάριν darin span of all fingers; seeAncient Greek units of measurement Atticσπιθαμή Ἑκατόμβαιος Hecatombaios epithet for Apollo in Athens and for Zeus inGortys (Arcadia) andGortyna , Crete Ϝιστίαυ Wistiau Attic Hestiou, eponym genitive of Hestios; Cf.Hestia andgistia ) ϝοῖνος woinos wine Cypriot,Cretan ,Delphic ,Magna Graecian ; Atticoinos ζέλλω zellô "throw, put, let, cast" Atticβάλλω ζέρεθρον zerethron pit (Homeric ,Attic βέρεθρον Koine barathron) θύρδα thyrda outside Atticἔξω exô ,thyra door; (Paphian θόρανδε thorande ἴν in in, inside Atticen ; Cypriot id. κάθιδος kathidos water-jug Atticὑδρία hydria ; (Tarentine huetos) κάς kas and Atticκαί κίδαρις kidaris Arcadian dance (Athenaeus 14.631d.)[ 10] Demetra Kidaria in Arcadia. κόρϝα korwa girl Attickorê ;Pamphylian nameΚορϝαλίνα Κορτύνιοι Kortynioi (Kortys orGortys (Arcadia) ) κυβήβη kubêbê boot, shoe Attichypodema Λῆναι Lênai Bacchae (LenaeusDionysus ,Lenaia festivalμωρίαι môriai horses, cattle οὔνη ounê ounei come on! Go! Atticδεῦρο, δράμε πέσσεται pessetai it is cooked, roasted Atticὀπτᾶται optatai πος pos towards, into Atticπρος ποσκατυβλάψη [ 11] poskatublapse (Atticproskatablapsei )
σίς [ 12] sis who, anyone Attic tis; Laconian tir; Thessalian kis; Cypr. sis (si se)
ἀβάθων abathôn ἁβαριστάν abaristan γυναικιζομένην ἀβαρταί abartai πτηνά ἀβλάξ ablax λαμπρῶς α + βλάξ (blax) "idiot", blapto "harm")ἀβρεμής abremês ἀβλεπής, ἀνάξιος του βλέπεσθαι ἁγάνα hagana σαγήνη ἄγαν θές agan thes σιώπα siôpa , 'shut up' ( "too much" + "put" (tithemi imp.)ἄγκυρα ankura (Atticτριώβολον triôbolon, "threeobols ") (Atticankura anchor)ἀγλαόν aglaon (Atticγλαφυρόν glaphyron , "smooth, sweet, simple, decorated" (Cretan also), (Attic:aglaos "bright")ἀγόρ agor eagle (Atticἀετός ἀγχοῦρος anchoûros anchauros anchi +aurion tomorrow )ἄδειὁς adeios adeios, adeia = "fearless, safe",Byzantine andModern :adeios, adeia = "empty")ἄδρυον adryon dugout canoe ) (α +δρῦς )ἀθρίζειν athrizein (Atticῥιγοῦν rhigoun to shiver)ἀίεις aieis ἀκούεις αἰπόλος aipolos Koine kapêlos wine-seller) (Atticaipolos 'goatherd ') (Atticpôleô sell)ἀκεύει akeuei τηρεῖ terei he observes, maintains, keeps order)ἄκμων akmôn plough orpestle ) (Atticἄκμων anvil ,meteor ) (Acmon mythology)ἀκοστή akostê barley (Atticκριθή Hsch. , but Thess. for grain of all kinds according to Sch.Il.6.506.)ἅλς ἅλς ἅλα *θάλασσαν (Α 141) vgAS ἢ οἶνος Κύπριοιἀλάβη alabê μαρίλη ember )λιγνύς. σποδός. καρκίνος. ἄνθρακες ἀλειπτήριον aleipterion γραφεῖον writing utensil or place of writing andengraving ) (Atticἀλειφω aleiphô smear, rub)ἄλευρον aleuron τάφος leuros smooth, level, even )(Atticἄλευρον ἄλουα aloua κῆποι ἁλουργά halourga τὰ ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης πορφυρᾶ Hsch. ἄνδα anda αὕτη ἄορον aoron lever μοχλός gatewayπυλῶν θυρωρός Aeolic aoros unsleeped)ἀούματα aoumata chaffs , straws left-overs of barleysτὰ τῶν πτισσομένων κριθῶν ἄχυρα ἀπέλυκα ἀπέῤῥωγα ἀπλανῆ aplanê πολλά ameremera ) (Atticaplaneis unmoving, non wandering esp. for stars)ἀποαἵρει apoairei (Atticἀποκαθαίρει ἀπαίρω ἀπόγεμε apogeme ἄφελκε aphelke ) (Atticγέμω gemô to be full of)ἀπολοισθεῖν apoloisthein to finish complete (Atticἀποτελεῖν apotelein )(ὅλος holos whole)ἀπόλυγμα apolugma denudation (Atticἀπογύμνωσις apogymnôsis )(cf.apolouma )ἀρὰς ἐπισπεῖραι aras epispeirai Cypriot cursing custom sowing barley with waterσπειρόντων κριθὰς μεθ' ἁλὸς καταρᾶσθαί τισιν ἄριζος arizos α +ῥίζα ἄρμυλα armula ὑποδήματα hypodemata )ἀρμώατος armôatos σπασμός spasmos spasm )ἄρουρα aroura σωρὸς σίτου σὺν ἀχύροις ἄρουρα ἄρπιξ arpix acanthus "species of thorn",εἶδος ἀκάνθης aprix αὔγαρος augaros ἄσωτος asôtos unsaved, wasteful,prodigal )αὐεκίζειν auekizein σφακελίζειν sphakelizein producegangrene )Ἀχαιομάντεις Achaiomanteis seers, priests in Cyprus (Hesychius)βᾶλλαι ballai βαθμοί bathmoi grades, steps, stages) (Aeolic arrows)βλάστα blasta (Atticβλάστησις Vegetation )βομβοία bomboia κολυμβὰς ἐλαία kolumbas elaia pickled olive, swimming in brine)(Attickolumbaô dive, swim)βορβορίζει borborizei γογγύζει. μολύνει βουκανῆ boukanê anemone flowerἀνεμώνη βουνός bounos στιβάς stibas bed of straw, reeds, leaves) (Koine bounos hill, mountain)βοώνητα boôneta (Attic 'purchased things in the price of cows')τιμῆς βοῶν ἠγορασμένα βρένθιξ brenthix θριδακίνη lettuce )βρίγκα brinka μικρόν mikron )βριμάζειν brimazein orgasmize ὀργᾷν εἰς συνουσίαν Brimô mythology) (brimaomai freak, be enraged)βροῦκα brouka locust χλωρὰν ἀκρίδα Ionic broukos)βρούχετος brouchetos βάτραχος Hsch. brouchetos pitβάραθρον βύβλιοι byblioi gravekeepersγάνος ganos Hebrew gan 'garden')γέμοις νυ gemois nu lit ."you may be full, filled now"Hsch. λαβέ καὶ κάθιζε γένεσις genesis libation (Atticσπονδή sponde )γοᾶναι goanai (Atticκλαίειν klaiein to cry) (goaô moan)γρᾶ gra grasthi "eat (imp)" (Atticφάγε phage ) (Atticgraô Sanskrit grasate eat) (PIE *gres- devour) (Salaminian καγρᾶ kagra kata + graôKoine kataphagas gluttonous)δαματρίζειν damatrizein τὸ συνάγειν τὸν Δημητριακὸν καρπόν Demeter "δεῖν dein 'turn' (Atticστρέφειν strephein (cf. Attic: deo tie)δίπτυον diptuon διφθεραλοιφός diphtheraloiphos γραμματοδιδάσκαλος grammatodidaskalos ( aleiphô "smear" +diphthera "goatskin , writing-material,parchment "δρόσος drosos ἀχρείος achreios "needless, useless" (Atticdrosos dew)δύσεα dusea τοῦ τοίχου τὰ πέριξ ἔαρ ear αἷμα haima blood) (Attic Ear Spring (season))Ἔγχειος Encheios Ἀφροδίτη ἔλαψα elapsa (Atticδιέφθειρα diephtheira I harmed)ἔλφος elphos butter (Atticβούτυρον ἔναυὁν enauon ἔνθες εναύοντες ἀνάπτοντες πυρί. τὰ γὰρ σμήνη τῶν μελισσῶν διώκουσι διὰ πυρὸς καὶ καπνοῦ A (n)ἔπιξα epixa (Atticὄρνεα ornea birds)ἐροῦντες erountes (Atticλέγοντες erountes the ones who will say)ἐρούα eroua πορεύου,αναπαύου erôeô )ἔστη estê στολή esthês clothing)ζάει zaei (Atticκινεῖ καὶ πνεῖ zaei binei, inire, coïre, of illicit intercourse)θᾶτες thates thutes manual labourers (Atticθῆτες thêtes ) (seeTimocracy )θεῖον theiοn (Atticἴγδιον igdion mortar) (Aristophanes θυεία thyeia igdion mortar)θίβων thibôn Koine thibis ark, basket) (Hebrew tēbhāh ark, fromEgyptian tebt 'box')θρόδαξ throdax θρίδαξ lettuce )θύα thua flavourings ἀρτύματα. Κύπριοι. ἔνιοι τὰ ἀρώματα. Καλλίμαχος (fr.564). Εὔπολις (fr. 108,2) τὰ πέμματα. λέγεται δὲ καὶ τὰ θυόμενα ταῖν θεαῖν ἵγα higa σιώπα siôpa ) (Cretan iga)ἱμονιά himonia ἵμας himas )ἳν hin dat. and acc. of the old pers. Pron. hi (q.v.). in, Arc., Cypr., and Cret. for en (q.v.)[ 13] καλίνδινα kalindina intestines (Atticἔντερα entera ) (PIE : ghel-ond-, ghol-n•d- stomach; bowels) (Homeric cholades) (Macedonian gola)καχίλα kachila ἄνθη κενεά ἀναδενδράδες anadendrades climbing vineyards) (Attic kena kenea vainκίβισις kibisis πήρα Aetolian kibba)κίλλος killos τέττιξ πρωϊνὸς killos donkey)Κινυράδαι Kinyradai Aphrodite ἱερεῖς Ἀφροδίτης κίρις kiris orkirris (cypriotic epithet forAdonis ) (Laconian kirris λύχνος lychnos light, lamp)κίτταρις kittaris Diadem .Κίτταροι κιχητός kichêtos censer (Attic libanôtos) is being dyedεἰς ὃ ἐμβάπτεται ὁ λιβανωτός κυνύπισμα kunupisma pomace (stemphyla), i.e. left-overs of pressed grapes.λήνεα λείνα ἔρια eria wools)μόψος mopsos κηλὶς ἡ ἐν τοῖς ἱματίοις Mopsus mythology) (Mopsopia old name ofAttica and Attic tales ofEuphorion of Chalcis )μύθα mytha φωνή phonê mythosμυθέομαι μυλάσασθαι mulasasthai σμήξασθαι σμήχω ὄλινοι olinoi sheaves of barleyὄλινοι κριθῆς δέσμαι. καὶ ὤλενος παρὰ Κυπρίοιςὀρτός ortos (Atticβωμός bômos altar)οὐάραι ouarai ἡμεῖς hemeis )οὔαρον ouaron ἔλαιον elaion )οὖνον ounon ounos road (Attic odos) (Koine dromos)πέσσον pesson ὄρος χωρίον πιλνόν pilnon (Atticφαιόν phaion obscure brown,πελιδνόν pelidnon livid (blue, green/ dark)πρέπον prepon beast (Atticτέρας teras beast)(prepôn -ontos, a fish) (Atticprepon -ntos suitable)Πυγμαίων Pygmaion Ἄδωνις Adonis ῥύεινα rhueina ἄρνα σί βόλε si bole? (Atticτί βούλει ti boulei ? what do you want?)σίγυνον sigunon ἀκόντιον akontion spear)[ 14] ἐπίκορον epicoron ἐπίκοπον keirô andkoptô cut)ἐς πόθ' ἕρπες es poth' herpes ? (Atticπόθεν ἥκεις pothen hekeis ? where do you come from?) (Atticἕρπειν herpein to creep, to crawl, move slowly like aserpent εὐτρόσσεσθαι eutrossesthai ἐπιστρέφεσθαι epistrephesthai return)θόρανδε thorande (Atticἔξω exo outside)θύρα thyra doorἵγγια hingia εἷς heis ) (Cretanitton hen one)ἰμίτραιον imitraion Hsch. ὑπόζωστον hypozoston under-girdle , rope of shipἰμπάταὁν impataon ἔμβλεψον emblepson look inside -imperative) (Hsch. inkapathaon enkatablepson)κάβειος kabeios νέος καβλή kablê μάνδαλος mandalos latch )κακκέρσαι kakkersai (Atticκατακόψαι katakopsai to cut, slay) (kata +keirô cut)καλέχεο kalecheo κατάκεισο katakeiso lay down -imperative) (Homericλέχος lechos bed)καπατάξεις kapataxeis κατακόψεις katakopseis you will cut, slay)κάῤῥαξον karrhaxon (Atticκατάραξον kataraxon strike -imperative) (kata +arassô κατέρεαι katereai κάθισαι kathisa sit)κίβος kibos kibôtos ark orἐνεός eneos speechless)κιδνόν kidnon ἐνθάδε κόρζα korza korzia heart ( Atticκαρδία Ionic kardiê )(Homeric kradiê ) (Aeolic karza )κύβος kubos τρύβλιον trublion ) (Attic kuboscube )λιμήν limên ἀγορά and (ἐνδιατριβή λιμήν limên port, harbour)μοχοῖ mochoi ἐντός muchos σάπιθος sapithos θυσία σάσαι sasai καθίσαι thassô sit, thôkos backless throne)σές ses (Atticἔλαθες elathes you were hidden, escaped notice seeλανθάνω σίαἱ sihai πτύσαι ptusai σοάνα soana (Atticἀξίνη axinê axe )στροπά stropa ἀστραπή sterope , lightning flash)ὕεσι huesi Koine στολή ἀμφίεσις clothing ,Hsch. ὑεστάκα Φάπη Phapê Παφία Aphrodite )^a b Karnava, Artemis (2014)."Cypriot Syllabary" . In Giannakis, Georgios K. (ed.).Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics . Brill. pp. 404– 408. Retrieved11 August 2025 . ^ Roger D. Woodard (2008), "Greek dialects", in:The Ancient Languages of Europe , ed. R. D. Woodard, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 51. ^a b van Beek 2022 , pp. 174, 182–184, 190^ Georgiadou, Anna (2015)."The Tablet of Idalion (ICS 217)" .Kyprios Character. History, Archaeology & Numismatics of Ancient Cyprus . ^ Janko 2018 , p. 116^ Pausanias ,Description of Greece 8.5.1 Archived 2008-01-26 at theWayback Machine ^ John T. Hooker,Mycenaean Greece (Routledge Revivals).Archived 2015-12-24 at theWayback Machine Routledge, 2014ISBN 1317751221 ^ Kypros,Salamis , c. 600 BC[1] Archived 2011-07-16 at theWayback Machine ^ Kypros —Kourion ~320 BC[2] Archived 2011-07-16 at theWayback Machine ^ Mortals and Immortals[3] Archived 2016-12-24 at theWayback Machine byJean-Pierre Vernant ^ Arkadia —Tegea — 4th century BCIG V,2 6 38 Archived 2011-07-16 at theWayback Machine ^ Arkadia —Mantineia —stoichedon . — 5th century BC[4] Archived 2011-07-16 at theWayback Machine ^ "LSJ" .Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved2021-02-20 .^ Aristotle ,Poetics [5] Archived 2007-12-19 at theWayback Machine Bakker, Egbert J., ed. 2010.A companion to the Ancient Greek language. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Christidis, Anastasios-Phoivos, ed. 2007.A history of Ancient Greek: From the beginnings to Late Antiquity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Colvin, Stephen C. 2007.A historical Greek reader: Mycenaean to the koiné. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Horrocks, Geoffrey. 2010.Greek: A history of the language and its speakers. 2nd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Palmer, Leonard R. 1980.The Greek language. London: Faber & Faber.
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