Ancient Greek dialects
Ancient Greek in classical antiquity, before the development of the common Koine Greek of the Hellenistic period, was divided into several varieties.
Distribution of Greek dialects in Greece in the classical period.
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Western group: |
Central group: |
Eastern group:
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Distribution of Greek dialects in Magna Graecia (Southern Italy and Sicily) in the classical period.
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Western group: |
Eastern group:
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Most of these varieties are known only from inscriptions, but a few of them, principally Aeolic, Doric, and Ionic, are also represented in the literary canon alongside the dominant Attic form of literary Greek.
Likewise, Modern Greek is divided into several dialects, most derived from Koine Greek.
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