Ancient Greek dialect spoken in Arcadia in the central Peloponnese and in Cyprus
Arcadocypriot , or southern
Achaean , was an
ancient Greek dialect spoken in
Arcadia in the central
Peloponnese and in
Cyprus . Its resemblance to
Mycenaean Greek , as it is known from the
Linear B corpus, suggests that Arcadocypriot is its descendant.
In Cyprus the dialect was written using solely the
Cypriot syllabary . The most extensive surviving text of the dialect is the
Idalion Tablet .
[2] A significant literary source on the vocabulary comes from the lexicon of 5th century AD grammarian
Hesychius .
History
Proto-Arcadocypriot (around 1200 BC) is supposed to have been spoken by Achaeans in the Peloponnese before the arrival of
Dorians , so it is also called southern Achaean. The
isoglosses of the Cypriot and Arcadian dialects testify that the Achaeans had settled in Cyprus. As
Pausanias reported:
Agapenor , the son of
Ancaeus , the son of
Lycurgus , who was king after
Echemus , led the
Arcadians to
Troy . 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 of
Paphos , and built the sanctuary of Aphrodite at
Palaepaphos (Old Paphos).
[3]
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 in the
Bronze 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 of
West Greek intruded upon the Peloponnese and occupied the coastal states, but made no significant inroads into Arcadia.
[4]
Later developments
After the collapse of the
Mycenaean world, communication ended, and Cypriot was differentiated from Arcadian. It was written until the 3rd century BC using the
Cypriot syllabary .
[5]
[6]
Tsan was a letter in use only in Arcadia until around the 6th century BC. Arcadocypriot kept many characteristics of Mycenaean, early lost in Attic and Ionic, such as the /w/ sound (
digamma ).
Glossary
Arcadian
Arcadian word
English transliteration
Meaning
Other Greek dialects
ἀμφιδεκάτη
amphidekatê
21st of the month ἡ μετὰ εἰκάδα ἡμέρα
(
ampheikas )(dekatê tenth)
ἄνωδα
anôda
up-side
Attic ἄνωθε anôthe
ἄρμωλα
armôla or ἀρμώμαλα armômala
food seasoning
Attic ἀρτύματα artymata; ἀρτύω artyo
ἄσιστος
asistos
nearest
Attic ἄγχιστος anchistos
δάριν
darin or dareir
span of all fingers; see
Ancient Greek units of measurement
Attic σπιθαμή spithame, inch)
Ἑκατόμβαιος
Hecatombaios
epithet for Apollo in Athens and for Zeus in
Gortys (Arcadia) and
Gortyna , Crete
Ϝιστίαυ
Wistiau
Attic Hestiou, eponym genitive of Hestios; Cf.
Hestia and
gistia )
ϝοῖνος
woinos
wine
Cypriot,
Cretan ,
Delphic ,
Magna Graecian ; Attic oinos
ζέλλω
zellô
"throw, put, let, cast"
Attic βάλλω ballô
ζέρεθρον
zerethron
pit
(
Homeric ,
Attic βέρεθρον berethron; (
Koine barathron)
θύρδα
thyrda
outside
Attic ἔξω exô , thyra door; (
Paphian θόρανδε thorande
ἴν
in
in, inside
Attic en ; Cypriot id.
κάθιδος
kathidos
water-jug
Attic ὑδρία
hydria ; (Tarentine huetos)
κάς
kas
and
Attic καί kai; Cypriotic id.
κίδαρις
kidaris
Arcadian dance (Athenaeus 14.631d.)
[7] and
Demetra Kidaria in Arcadia.
κόρϝα
korwa
girl
Attic korê ;
Pamphylian name Κορϝαλίνα Korwalina
Κορτύνιοι
Kortynioi
(Kortys or
Gortys (Arcadia) )
κυβήβη
kubêbê
boot, shoe
Attic hypodema
Λῆναι
Lênai
Bacchae (Lenaeus
Dionysus ,
Lenaia festival
μωρίαι
môriai
horses, cattle
οὔνη
ounê or ounei
come on! Go!
Attic δεῦρο, δράμε deuro, drame
πέσσεται
pessetai
it is cooked, roasted
Attic ὀπτᾶται
optatai
πος
pos
towards, into
Attic προς pros; Cypriot id. !
ποσκατυβλάψη
[8] poskatublapse (Attic proskatablapsei )
σίς
[9]
sis
who, anyone
Attic tis; Laconian tir; Thessalian kis; Cypr. sis (si se)
Cypriot
ἀβάθων
abathôn teacher (Attic didaskalos)
ἁβαριστάν
abaristan (
γυναικιζομένην ) 'effeminate'
ἀβαρταί
abartai birds, volatile (Attic hai ptênai, ta ptêna πτηνά )
ἀβλάξ
ablax 'brightly wonderful' (Attic λαμπρῶς lambrôs) (
α + βλάξ (blax) "idiot", blapto "harm")
ἀβρεμής
abremês ἀβλεπής, ἀνάξιος του βλέπεσθαι , 'unworthy of being seen, despicable'
ἁγάνα
hagana and agana (Attic σαγήνη sagênê 'dragnet')
ἄγαν θές (
agan
thes ) (Attic σιώπα siôpa , 'shut up' ( "too much" + "put" (tithemi imp.)
ἄγκυρα ankura (Attic τριώβολον triôbolon, "three
obols ") (Attic
ankura anchor)
ἀγλαόν aglaon (Attic γλαφυρόν glaphyron , "smooth, sweet, simple, decorated" (
Cretan also), (Attic:
aglaos "bright")
ἀγόρ agor eagle (Attic ἀετός aetos)
ἀγχοῦρος
anchoûros near the morning (from
anchauros anchi + aurion tomorrow )
ἄδειὁς
adeios (Attic akathartos), "cleanless, impure" (cf. Attic: adeios, adeia = "fearless, safe",
Byzantine and
Modern : adeios, adeia = "empty")
ἄδρυον
adryon (ploion
dugout canoe ) (
α +
δρῦς )
ἀθρίζειν athrizein (Attic ῥιγοῦν rhigoun to shiver)
ἀίεις
aieis 'you listen' (Attic ἀκούεις akoueis) (aïô only in poetic use)
αἰπόλος
aipolos (
Koine kapêlos wine-seller) (Attic aipolos '
goatherd ') (Attic
pôleô sell)
ἀκεύει
akeuei (Attic τηρεῖ terei he observes, maintains, keeps order)
ἄκμων
akmôn (Attic ἀλετρίβανος aletribanos
plough or
pestle ) (Attic ἄκμων
anvil ,
meteor ) (
Acmon mythology)
ἀκοστή
akostê
barley (Attic κριθή krithê ) Cypr. according to
Hsch. , but Thess. for grain of all kinds according to Sch.Il.6.506.)
ἅλς hals (Attic oinos wine) (Attic ἅλς hals sea) (ἅλα *θάλασσαν (Α 141) vgAS ἢ οἶνος Κύπριοι )
ἀλάβη
alabê or alaba (Attic μαρίλη marile charcoal-
ember ) λιγνύς. σποδός. καρκίνος. ἄνθρακες
ἀλειπτήριον
aleipterion (Attic γραφεῖον grapheion
writing utensil or place of writing and
engraving ) (Attic ἀλειφω aleiphô smear, rub)
ἄλευρον
aleuron grave (Attic τάφος taphos )(
leuros smooth, level, even )(Attic ἄλευρον wheat flour)
ἄλουα
aloua gardens (Attic κῆποι kêpoi)
ἁλουργά
halourga the red things of the sea τὰ ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης πορφυρᾶ Cypr. according to
Hsch.
ἄνδα
anda she (Attic αὕτη hautê)
ἄορον
aoron
lever μοχλός gateway πυλῶν door-keeper θυρωρός (
Aeolic aoros unsleeped)
ἀούματα
aoumata
chaffs , straws left-overs of barleys τὰ τῶν πτισσομένων κριθῶν ἄχυρα (Cf. loumata, lumata)
ἀπέλυκα apelyka (Attic ἀπέῤῥωγα aperrhoga I am broken, crashed)
ἀπλανῆ
aplanê many, a lot (Attic πολλά ) (Laconian ameremera ) (Attic aplaneis unmoving, non wandering esp. for stars)
ἀποαἵρει apoairei (Attic ἀποκαθαίρει apokathairei he cleans, removes) (ἀπαίρω lead off, set out to sea)
ἀπόγεμε
apogeme imp. remove out, draw off liquor(Attic ἄφελκε aphelke ) (Attic γέμω gemô to be full of)
ἀπολοισθεῖν apoloisthein to finish complete (Attic ἀποτελεῖν apotelein )(ὅλος holos whole)
ἀπόλυγμα
apolugma
denudation (Attic ἀπογύμνωσις apogymnôsis )(cf.
apolouma )
ἀρὰς ἐπισπεῖραι aras epispeirai Cypriot cursing custom sowing barley with water σπειρόντων κριθὰς μεθ' ἁλὸς καταρᾶσθαί τισιν
ἄριζος
arizos grave (Attic taphos) (
α + ῥίζα rhiza root)
ἄρμυλα
armula shoes (Attic ὑποδήματα hypodemata )
ἀρμώατος
armôatos (Attic σπασμός
spasmos
spasm )
ἄρουρα
aroura 'heap of wheat with straws' σωρὸς σίτου σὺν ἀχύροις (Homeric, Ionic ἄρουρα aroura earth)
ἄρπιξ
arpix harpix or aprix
acanthus "species of thorn", εἶδος ἀκάνθης (Attic
aprix fast, tight)
αὔγαρος
augaros (Attic ἄσωτος asôtos unsaved, wasteful,
prodigal )
αὐεκίζειν
auekizein (Attic σφακελίζειν sphakelizein produce
gangrene )
Ἀχαιομάντεις Achaiomanteis seers, priests in Cyprus (Hesychius)
βᾶλλαι
ballai (Attic βαθμοί bathmoi grades, steps, stages) (Aeolic arrows)
βλάστα blasta (Attic βλάστησις blastesis
Vegetation )
βομβοία
bomboia (Attic κολυμβὰς ἐλαία kolumbas elaia pickled olive, swimming in brine)(Attic kolumbaô dive, swim)
βορβορίζει
borborizei γογγύζει. μολύνει it groans, pollutes
βουκανῆ
boukanê
anemone flower ἀνεμώνη (bukanê trumpet)
βουνός
bounos (Attic στιβάς stibas bed of straw, reeds, leaves) (
Koine bounos hill, mountain)
βοώνητα boôneta (Attic 'purchased things in the price of cows') τιμῆς βοῶν ἠγορασμένα (Cypriot unholy things)
βρένθιξ
brenthix (Attic θριδακίνη thridakine
lettuce )
βρίγκα
brinka small (Attic μικρόν mikron )
βριμάζειν
brimazein
orgasmize ὀργᾷν εἰς συνουσίαν (
Brimô mythology) (brimaomai freak, be enraged)
βροῦκα
brouka green
locust χλωρὰν ἀκρίδα (
Ionic broukos)
βρούχετος
brouchetos frog (Attic βάτραχος bathrachos) (
Hsch. brouchetos pit βάραθρον )
βύβλιοι byblioi gravekeepers
γάνος
ganos garden pl. ganea (
Hebrew gan 'garden')
γέμοις νυ gemois nu
lit ."you may be full, filled now"
Hsch. λαβέ καὶ κάθιζε take and sit
γένεσις genesis
libation (Attic σπονδή sponde )
γοᾶναι goanai (Attic κλαίειν klaiein to cry) (
goaô moan)
γρᾶ
gra or grasthi "eat (imp)" (Attic φάγε phage ) (Attic
graô gnaw) (
Sanskrit grasate eat) (
PIE *gres- devour) (
Salaminian καγρᾶ
kagra kata + graô
Koine kataphagas gluttonous)
δαματρίζειν
damatrizein τὸ συνάγειν τὸν Δημητριακὸν καρπόν "collect the fuits of
Demeter "
δεῖν dein 'turn' (Attic στρέφειν strephein (cf. Attic: deo tie)
δίπτυον
diptuon (Attic hemimedimnos, a dry measure) (Aeolic kammarpsis)
διφθεραλοιφός
diphtheraloiphos elementary teacher γραμματοδιδάσκαλος grammatodidaskalos ( aleiphô "smear" +
diphthera "
goatskin , writing-material,
parchment "
δρόσος drosos ἀχρείος achreios "needless, useless" (Attic drosos dew)
δύσεα
dusea (the things around the wall) τοῦ τοίχου τὰ πέριξ
ἔαρ
ear (Attic αἷμα haima blood) (Attic Ear Spring (season))
Ἔγχειος Encheios
Ἀφροδίτη
ἔλαψα elapsa (Attic διέφθειρα diephtheira I harmed)
ἔλφος
elphos
butter (Attic βούτυρον boutyron)
ἔναυὁν enauon ἔνθες put in, ignite εναύοντες ἀνάπτοντες πυρί. τὰ γὰρ σμήνη τῶν μελισσῶν διώκουσι διὰ πυρὸς καὶ καπνοῦ A (n)
ἔπιξα epixa (Attic ὄρνεα ornea birds)
ἐροῦντες erountes (Attic λέγοντες legontes the saying) (Attic erountes the ones who will say)
ἐρούα
eroua walk and rest πορεύου,αναπαύου (cf. Homeric erôeô )
ἔστη
estê (Attic στολή stolê, equipment, garment) (cf.
esthês clothing)
ζάει zaei (Attic κινεῖ καὶ πνεῖ it moves and blows) (
zaei binei, inire, coïre, of illicit intercourse)
θᾶτες
thates or thutes manual labourers (Attic θῆτες thêtes ) (see
Timocracy )
θεῖον theiοn (Attic ἴγδιον igdion mortar) (
Aristophanes θυεία thyeia igdion mortar)
θίβων
thibôn (
Koine thibis ark, basket) (
Hebrew tēbhāh ark, from
Egyptian tebt 'box')
θρόδαξ
throdax (Attic θρίδαξ thridax
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 shut up (Attic σιώπα siôpa ) (
Cretan iga)
ἱμονιά
himonia strap (Attic ἵμας himas )
ἳν hin dat. and acc. of the old pers. Pron. hi (q.v.). in, Arc., Cypr., and Cret. for en (q.v.)
[10]
καλίνδινα kalindina intestines (Attic ἔντερα entera ) (
PIE : ghel-ond-, ghol-n•d- stomach; bowels) (
Homeric cholades) (
Macedonian gola)
καχίλα
kachila flowers (Attic ἄνθη anthê)
κενεά (Attic ἀναδενδράδες anadendrades climbing vineyards) (Attic kena kenea vain
κίβισις
kibisis bag (Attic πήρα pêra) (
Aetolian kibba)
κίλλος
killos morning cicada ( τέττιξ πρωϊνὸς tettix proinos) (Hesychius killos donkey)
Κινυράδαι
Kinyradai priests of
Aphrodite ἱερεῖς Ἀφροδίτης
κίρις kiris or
kirris (cypriotic epithet for
Adonis ) (
Laconian kirris λύχνος lychnos light, lamp)
κίτταρις
kittaris Cypriot
Diadem .Κίτταροι Kittaroi, the ones who wear it
κιχητός
kichêtos the vessel or the substance where the
censer (Attic libanôtos) is being dyed εἰς ὃ ἐμβάπτεται ὁ λιβανωτός
κυνύπισμα
kunupisma drink from
pomace (stemphyla), i.e. left-overs of pressed grapes.
λήνεα lênea or λείνα leina (Attic ἔρια eria wools)
μόψος
mopsos 'stain on the clothes' (Attic kêlis κηλὶς ἡ ἐν τοῖς ἱματίοις ) (
Mopsus mythology) (Mopsopia old name of
Attica and Attic tales of
Euphorion of Chalcis )
μύθα
mytha voice (Attic φωνή
phonê mythos μυθέομαι mytheomai speak narrate)
μυλάσασθαι
mulasasthai cleanse with oil (Attic σμήξασθαι smêxasthai σμήχω smêchô)
ὄλινοι
olinoi
sheaves of barley ὄλινοι κριθῆς δέσμαι. καὶ ὤλενος παρὰ Κυπρίοις
ὀρτός ortos (Attic βωμός bômos altar)
οὐάραι
ouarai we (Attic ἡμεῖς hemeis )
οὔαρον
ouaron olive oil (Attic ἔλαιον elaion )
οὖνον
ounon or ounos road (Attic odos) (Koine dromos)
πέσσον
pesson (Attic ὄρος mountain or χωρίον village)
πιλνόν pilnon (Attic φαιόν phaion obscure brown, πελιδνόν pelidnon livid (blue, green/ dark)
πρέπον prepon beast (Attic τέρας teras beast)(
prepôn -ontos, a fish) (Attic prepon -ntos suitable)
Πυγμαίων Pygmaion Ἄδωνις
Adonis
ῥύεινα
rhueina lamb, accusative (Attic ἄρνα arna)(nom. rhuein, arên from Wrêna)
σί βόλε si bole? (Attic τί βούλει ; ti boulei ? what do you want?)
σίγυνον
sigunon (Attic ἀκόντιον akontion spear)
[11]
Paphian
ἐπίκορον
epicoron (Attic ἐπίκοπον epikopon) cutting, re-stamped coin (from keirô and koptô cut)
ἐς πόθ' ἕρπες es poth' herpes ? (Attic πόθεν ἥκεις pothen hekeis ? where do you come from?) (Attic ἕρπειν herpein to creep, to crawl, move slowly like a
serpent
εὐτρόσσεσθαι
eutrossesthai (Attic ἐπιστρέφεσθαι epistrephesthai return)
θόρανδε thorande (Attic ἔξω exo outside) θύρα thyra door
ἵγγια
hingia one (Cypr. ingia) (εἷς heis ) (Cretan itton hen one)
ἰμίτραιον
imitraion (
Hsch. ὑπόζωστον hypozoston under-
girdle , rope of ship
ἰμπάταὁν
impataon (Attic ἔμβλεψον emblepson look inside -imperative) (
Hsch.
inkapathaon enkatablepson)
κάβειος
kabeios young (Attic νέος neos)
καβλή
kablê (Koine μάνδαλος mandalos
latch )
κακκέρσαι kakkersai (Attic κατακόψαι katakopsai to cut, slay) (kata + keirô cut)
καλέχεο
kalecheo (Attic κατάκεισο katakeiso lay down -imperative) (Homeric λέχος lechos bed)
καπατάξεις
kapataxeis (Attic κατακόψεις katakopseis you will cut, slay)
κάῤῥαξον karrhaxon (Attic κατάραξον kataraxon strike -imperative) (kata +
arassô
κατέρεαι
katereai (Atticκάθισαι kathisa sit)
κίβος
kibos (Attic kibôtos ark or ἐνεός eneos speechless)
κιδνόν
kidnon here (Attic ἐνθάδε enthade)
κόρζα
korza or korzia heart ( Attic καρδία kardia ) (
Ionic kardiê )(
Homeric kradiê ) (
Aeolic karza )
κύβος
kubos saucer bowl dish (Attic τρύβλιον trublion ) (Attic kubos
cube )
λιμήν
limên
ἀγορά and (ἐνδιατριβή endiatribê delay, abide, stay) (Attic λιμήν limên port, harbour)
μοχοῖ
mochoi inside (Attic ἐντός entos)(cf.
muchos innermost part, nook, corner)
σάπιθος
sapithos sacrifice (Attic θυσία thysia)
σάσαι
sasai to sit (Attic καθίσαι kathisai) (cf. Poetic
thassô sit, thôkos backless throne)
σές ses (Attic ἔλαθες elathes you were hidden, escaped notice see λανθάνω lanthano)
σίαἱ
sihai to spit (Attic πτύσαι
ptusai to spit, cast out)
σοάνα soana (Attic ἀξίνη axinê
axe )
στροπά
stropa (Attic ἀστραπή astrapê) (Homeric
sterope , lightning flash)
ὕεσι
huesi (
Koine στολή stolê "garment", (Attic ἀμφίεσις amphiesis
clothing ,
Hsch. ὑεστάκα huestaka)
Φάπη Phapê Παφία Paphia (Paphian
Aphrodite )
See also
References
^ Roger D. Woodard (2008), "Greek dialects", in: The Ancient Languages of Europe , ed. R. D. Woodard, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 51.
^ Georgiadou, Anna (2015).
"The Tablet of Idalion (ICS 217)" . Kyprios Character. History, Archaeology & Numismatics of Ancient Cyprus .
^
Pausanias , Description of Greece
8.5.1
Archived 2008-01-26 at the
Wayback Machine
^ John T Hooker,
Mycenaean Greece (Routledge Revivals).
Archived 2015-12-24 at the
Wayback Machine Routledge, 2014
ISBN
1317751221 p164
^ Kypros,
Salamis , c. 600 BC
[1]
Archived 2011-07-16 at the
Wayback Machine
^ Kypros —
Kourion ~320 BC
[2]
Archived 2011-07-16 at the
Wayback Machine
^ Mortals and Immortals
[3]
Archived 2016-12-24 at the
Wayback Machine by Jean-Pierre Vernant
^ Arkadia —
Tegea — 4th century BC
IG V,2 6 38
Archived 2011-07-16 at the
Wayback Machine
^ Arkadia —
Mantineia —
stoichedon . — 5th century BC
[4]
Archived 2011-07-16 at the
Wayback Machine
^
"LSJ" .
Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2021-02-20 .
^
Aristotle ,
Poetics , XXI
[5]
Archived 2007-12-19 at the
Wayback Machine
Bibliography
A History of Ancient Greek: From the Beginnings to Late Antiquity-
Arcado-Cypriot by A.Panayotou
C. M. Bowra
Homeric Words in Arcadian Inscriptions
Yves Duhoux. Introduction aux dialectes grecs anciens . Lounain-la-Neuve: Cabay, 1983
ISBN
2-87077-177-0
Rüdiger Schmitt. Einführung in die griechischen Dialekte . Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1977
ISBN
3-534-05672-8
Markus Egetmeyer. Le dialecte grec ancien de Chypre . 2 vols., vol. 1: Grammaire ; vol. 2: Répertoire des inscriptions en syllabaire chypro-grec . Berlin–NY: De Gruyter, 2010.
Further reading
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.
Origin and genealogy
Periods Varieties
Phonology Grammar Writing systems
Literature Promotion and study Other
c. 3rd millennium BC
c. 1600–1100 BC
c. 800–300 BC
c. 300 BC – AD 600
c. 600–1453 Since 1453