Ancient Cappadocian language explained

Ancient Cappadocian
Region:Asia Minor
Extinct:c. 6th century
Familycolor:unclassified
Fam2:Anatolian?
Fam3:Hittite? Luwian?
Iso3:none
Glotto:none

The ancient Cappadocian language was an ancient language or group of languages spoken in Asia Minor, possibly related to Hittite or Luwian.[1] [2] If Luwian, it may have been related to the dialect of Tabal. However, there are no known texts in this language.[3]

Strabo and Basil of Caesarea state that it was not Greek.[4]

It was ultimately replaced by Koine Greek, but appears to have survived in some locations until at least the 6th century CE.[5]

Notes

  1. Mark Janse, "The Resurrection of Cappadocian (Asia Minor Greek)", ΑΩ International. https://www.academia.edu/695490/The_Resurrection_of_Cappadocian_Asia_Minor_Greek_
  2. Mark Janse, The Survival of Cappadocian Greek. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341832339_Hellenisti_ginoskeis_Acts_2137_The_Survival_of_Cappadocian_Greek
  3. Frank Trombley, Hellenic Religion and Christianization c. 370-529 2:120
  4. As referenced in Arnold Hugh Martin Jones, The Cities of the Eastern Roman Provinces, 1937, p. 430: Strabo, 12:1:2, Basil of Caesarea, de Spiritu Sancto 29, Migne, P.G. 32:208 "και Καππαδόκαι δε ούτω λέγομεν εγχωρίως"
  5. J. Eric Cooper, Michael J. Decker, Life and Society in Byzantine Cappadocia, p. 14