Aeolic Greek

In linguistics, Aeolic Greek (/iːˈɒlɪk/), also known as Aeolian (/iːˈɒliən/), Lesbian or Lesbic dialect, is the set of dialects of Ancient Greek spoken mainly in Boeotia; in Thessaly; in the Aegean island of Lesbos; in the Greek colonies of Aeolis in Anatolia and adjoining islands; and possibly in Lower Macedonia.

The Aeolic dialect shows many archaisms in comparison to the other Ancient Greek dialects (Arcadocypriot, Attic, Ionic, and Doric), as well as many innovations; it is, consequently, considered to be—for the modern reader—perhaps the most difficult of the dialects.

Aeolic Greek is widely known as the language of Sappho and of Alcaeus of Mytilene. Aeolic poetry, which is exemplified in the works of Sappho, mostly uses four classical meters known as the Aeolics: Glyconic (the most basic form of Aeolic line), hendecasyllabic verse, Sapphic stanza, and Alcaic stanza (the latter two are respectively named for Sappho and Alcaeus).

Additionally, based on the conclusions drawn by several studies and findings such as Pella curse tablet, Emilio Crespo and other scholars suggest that the Ancient Macedonian dialect was a Northwest Doric dialect, that shared isoglosses with its neighboring Thessalian (Aeolic) dialects spoken in northeastern Thessaly. Other scholars have suggested an Aeolic Greek classification with strong Northwest Greek influence for the ancient Macedonian dialect. Hellanicus of Lesbos considered Makedon to be a son of Aeolus (son of Hellen).