Timeline

Language and Dialects of Greece

Ancient Greek
1200-400 B.C.

DIALECTS (five main dialects found on inscriptions; based on geography; with regional subdivisions)

1. Attic-Ionic (represented in literature)
   • Ionic
     • East Ionic
     • Central Ionic
     • West Ionic
   • Attic
2. Achaean
   • Arcadian
   • Cyprian
   • Pamphylian
3. Aeolic (represented in literature)
   • Lesbian
   • Thessalian
   • Boeotian
4. Doric (represented in literature)
   • Laconian-Heraclean
   • Messenian
   • Argolic
   • Megarian,
   • Corinthian
   • Rhodian
   • Theran-Melian
   • Coan-Calymnian
   • Cretan
5. Northwest Greek
   • Phocian
   • Locrian
   • Elean