According to Herodotus, the Hellenes acquired the writing system from the Phoenicians. During their intense commercial relations with the Phoenicians, the Hellenes observed that the former were using certain signs in identifying goods and eventually adopted the system for their own use.
The alphabet in question was spread, by way of maritime trade, first to large commercial centers (Crete, Rhodes, and Euboea) and later across the other regions of Hellas.
The alphabet Hellenes adopted from the Phoenicians is the Northern Semitic script written from right to left and comprised of 22 letters. Since the script was not transferred to Hellas in a regular time line, the Archaic Hellenistic script is noticeably unorganized and unevenly distributed. Therefore, the first alphabets of each region and city (polis) vary considerably during this period.
Having adopted writing from the Phoenicians, Hellenes made certain changes add adjusted the script to the structure of their own language. For example, they lent a phonetic character to some of the letters in the Phoenicians alphabet, which has no vowels, and in order to articulate certain sounds they could not express with this alphabet, they added some letters such as Φ, Χ, and Ψ to their own.
Originating from a common language, Hellenistic Greek gradually separated into Ionic, Attican, Aiolian, Arcadian-Cypriot, and Doric dialects. Despite the number of dialects, it did not diversify into different languages as in the case of new Latin languages. Adhering to orthographic tradition, each of the ancient Hellenistic dialects became the instrument of a specific literary genre. Consequently, the Ionic and Homeric dialect became the language of epics, the Doric dialect of choir songs, Aiolian dialect of lyrical poetry, the Attican dialect of tragedy, philosophy, and elocution.
GRAVE STELE OF THE DOG PARTHENOPE
Place of Discovery: Castro, Metelin Island
Language: Ancient Greek
Date: 3rd century AD
Material: Marble
İstanbul Archaeological Museums Collection
“His owner buried the dog Parthenope he played with. (Mutual) love is rewarding in gratitude for this happiness, as in the case of this dog. As a friend to my owner, I deserve this grave. Take this example and find yourself a worthy friend who is ready to love you while you are alive and will also care for your body (when you die)”.
[Transl.: I.A.M]
Placed at graves and serving as a kind of identity card of the deceased, steles or tombstones were also used for pets as well. Inscribed in stone to elegize a dearly beloved pet whose passing caused grief for its owners, these lines demonstrate how much the dog was valued. Tombstone poets written in Ancient Greek for dogs are also encountered in Lesbos (Midilli), Bergama, Rome, and Termessos.
INSCRIPTION TABLET OF AGREEMENT ON MARKET WEIGHTS
Place of Discovery: Andriake (Demre, Antalya)
Language: Ancient Greek
Date: 388-392 AD
Material: Limestone
Andriake Excavation Find, Inv. no 6a
“During the administration of my master and the state governorship of the greatly admired and the holder of illustrious and renowned holy governorship positions Flavius Eutolmius, two iron fragellium and two copper ksestes in three augustia volumes were manufactured to be allocated; in addition, three modius have been manufactured to be sent from the highest post. Of these, one fragellium will be given to the Metropolis of the Myrans and the other will be sent to the city of the Arneaians. Of the ksetes is (to be given) to Myra and the other to Arneai; The Myrans will also be given two modius and also two hemimodius (half-modius); the Arneaians will receive one, whereas one hemimodius will be preserved at the Granarium in the custody of the state governments to control the measures (of liquid and solid goods) from time to time.”
[Transl.: S. Şahin]
Located on the sea route from East to West, Andriake is known, along with Patara, to be one of the two most important ports for grain fleets for the Egyptians and Greeks during the Roman Empire, and for Constantinople as of 4th century AD. Recognized as one of the most expensive buildings of the Roman world, the city Horrea (Granarium or granary) of Andriake was of utmost importance not only for the transportation of the grains from Lycian plateaus, but also for the safety of the exports from Egypt. The inscription tablet on the façade of the Granarium, which mentions the name of praefectus praetorio Fl. Eutolmius Tatianus (388–392 AD), attests to the scaling and sealing of the weights and measures between the Myran Metropolis and Arneai, and also proves that the granarium in Andriake was in use during the Early Byzantine period as well.
FUNERARY STELE OF RHODAN
Place of Discovery: Unknown
Language: Hellenic
Date: 2nd-3rd century AD
Material: Stone
Rezan Has Museum Collection
Ζωσίμη
Ῥόδανι
μνήμης ἕνεκα
Zosime (built) this stele in memory of her (husband/brother?) Rhodan.”
Votive stele offered after the deceased: In the Ancient Hellenic tradition, some tombs were bought while the owners were still alive; the depictions and inscriptions would be applied before the tomb owner passed away.
VOTIVE OFFERING FOR MOTHER GODDESS LETO
Place of Discovery: Unknown
Language: Hellenic
Date: 2nd-3rd century AD
Material: Marble
Rezan Has Museum Collection
Μητέρα Λητὼ Μαρκιανὴ Γλύκωνος
ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων ἀνέθηκεν
“Markiane, daughter of Glykon erected (this votive offering) for Mother Goddess Leto by paying (money) out of her own pocket.”
As the Mother Goddess of Lycia, Leto is the mother of Apollo and Artemis in Hellenic mythology. This inscription was quite possibly discovered in the Mediterranean Region (Fethiye-Antalya), the native land of Goddess Leto.
STONEMASON NIKOLA
Place of Discovery: Bilecik Osmaneli- Selçik
Language: with Hellenic words written in Turkish Karamanlıca
Date: 1893-1894
Material: Marble
ΤΑΣΤΖΙ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΝΙΝ
ΧΑΙΡΑΤΙ v ΙΑΓΑ
Ταστζι Ν̣ικολαν̣ιν
χαιρ̣ατι· ͵ιαγα ́.
“Beneficence of quarrier Nikola (Date) 1311 (= 1893–1894).”
[Transl.: H. S. Öztürk]
Writen with Turkish Karamanca. It was constructed as dibstone for the village people.
MILESTONE OF THE TIME OF EMPEROR CONSTANTINUS
Place of Discovery: Bilecik Osmaneli-Medetli
Language: Hellenic and Latin
Date: 337-340 AD
Material: Marble
Πολλὰ
τὰ ἔτη
τοῦ βασι[λέ-]
4 ας.
Imp̣(eratori) Caes(ari) [Fl(avio) Val(erio)]
Constantino p(io) f(elici)
vic(tori) semper Aug(usto)
8 et Fl(avio) Iul(io) Const[a]ntio
p(io) f(elici) vic(tori) semper Aug(usto)
et Fl(avio) Iul(io) Constant
p(io) f(elici) vic(tori) semper Aụg̣(usto)
12 A Nicaea mil(ia) XXV
Ἀπὸ Νεικαίας
κεʹ.
The inscription is in Hellenic and Latin, showing the distance between cities. It shows the distance to Ancient Nikaia (= Iznik). A Roman mile is approximately 1.45 km.
THE POETRY ON THE GRAVE OF SOMEONE NAMED DILIPORIS
Place of Discovery: Sakarya Pamukova-Akçakaya
Language: Hellenic
Date: 2nd century AD
Material: Limestone resembling marble
Μνῆμα
Διλίπορις Ἄπφου ζῶν κα-
τεσκέουασεν ἑαυτῷ
4 ἀνεξοδίαστον
σὺν ταῖς οἰκίαις καθὼς περιείληπται.
κἢν σπεύδῃς, ὦ ξεῖνε, καὶ ἢν εὔκαι-
ρος ὁδεύῃς, / στῆθι παρ’ οὑμὸν σῆμα
8 καὶ εἴσῃ τοὔνομα τοὐμόν, / οὐκ ἀσό-
φως ζητηθὲν ὑπὸ ζώοντος ἐμεῖο· / ἐν-
νέα γράμματ’ ἔχω, τετρασύλλαβός εἰμι, νόει
σύ· / αἱ τρεῖς αἱ πρῶται δύο γράμματ’ ἔχουσιν ἐκάσ-
12 τη, / ἡ λοιπὴ δὲ τὰ τρεία καὶ εἰσὶν ἄφωνα τὰ πέντε, /
ἐστὶ δ’ ἀριθμὸς πένθ’ ἑκατοντάδες <ἠ>δὲ δὶς
ἑπτά. / ταῦτ’ οὖν ζητήσας καὶ γνούς, ὅστις περ ὁ γρά-
ψας, / γνωστὸς ἔσῃ Μούσαις καὶ σοφίης μέ-
16 τοχος. / μνῆμα δ’ ἐμὸν τόδε χεῖρες ἔτι ζώ-
οντος ἔτευξαν / λαΐνεον γαίης Τέρβοιο,
ἣν κατέχω. /