It is not possible to say with complete certainty what language the Pelasgi originally spoke. There are no written records that clearly explain their speech. However, we can make some careful guesses by looking at the languages spoken by Pelasgian groups who still existed in later times. These surviving groups may give us clues about the older Pelasgian language.
For example, some Pelasgi lived in Creston, a place located above the Tyrrhenians. Long before that, they had lived in a region called Thessaliotis, where they were neighbors of the people later known as the Dorians. Other Pelasgi founded the cities of Placia and Scylace near the Hellespont. Before settling there, they had lived for some time among the Athenians. There were also Pelasgian groups in other cities that later lost the Pelasgian name but still kept Pelasgian customs Guided Tour Ephesus.
A Language Different from Greek
If we judge by the speech of these Pelasgian groups, we must conclude that they spoke a language very different from Greek. Their language sounded foreign and unfamiliar to Greek ears. In ancient times, such a language was often called “barbarous,” meaning simply that it was not Greek.
If all Pelasgi shared the same language, then an important change must have happened among the Athenians. The Athenians were originally Pelasgi themselves. When they later became part of the Hellenic, or Greek, people, they must have changed their language at the same time. This would explain why the Athenians spoke Greek, while other Pelasgian groups did not.
Evidence from Living Pelasgian Communities
There is strong evidence that supports this idea. The people of Creston spoke a language unlike that of any neighboring group. The same was true of the people of Placia. However, the languages spoken in Creston and Placia were the same as each other. This shows that these two communities kept the language they brought with them when they moved to their new lands.
Their speech did not change to match the languages around them. Instead, it remained stable over time. This suggests that the Pelasgian language stayed the same in these communities, even while Greek languages developed and spread nearby.
The Stability of the Hellenic Language
In contrast, the Hellenic race appears never to have changed its language since its earliest beginnings. This is at least how it seems from historical evidence. The Hellenic people began as a small branch of the Pelasgian population. At first, they were few in number and not very powerful Croesus Rejoices at the Oracles Reply.
Over time, however, the Hellenic people grew stronger and more numerous. They did not grow mainly by natural increase. Instead, many non-Greek tribes joined them willingly. These groups adopted the Greek language and customs and became part of the Hellenic world. In this way, the Greek people expanded and became dominant.
Different Paths of Growth
The Pelasgian people followed a very different path. They remained a separate group and did not grow greatly in number. They did not absorb other tribes in the same way the Hellenes did. As a result, the Pelasgi gradually lost influence and importance.
In summary, the Pelasgian language appears to have been foreign and non-Greek. The Athenians likely changed their language when they became part of the Hellenic people. Meanwhile, the Greek language remained stable and spread widely, shaping the cultural world of ancient Greece.
