A Translation from the Hellenistic Bureaucratic Koiné into Greek Dialect

Abstract

Greek inscription IG IX II 517 quotes two letters from Philipp V of Macedonia dating 217 and 214 BC addressed to the Thessalian city Larissa and then loosely rephrases them in Thessalian, explaining the council’s decision. The Thessalian text in many respects is a form of translation from the koiné into the dialect. In view of the importance of Macedonian influence on Thessaly at this time, this kind of “translation” reads as a political demonstration of independency.