Macedonians were Greeks

Historical truth on the ancient Macedonians

"I think it's ridiculous that Greece is being asked to prove that the Macedonians were Greeks when we know that the judges at the Olympic Games, who decided who was Greek and who was not, decided 100% for sure that the Macedonians were Greeks"
Dorothy King
Archaeologist

Macedonian artifacts before the spread of hellenism by alexander the great

These artifacts are presented to show that Greek was the language of the ancient Macedonians generations before Alexander the Great spread it across the world. Although many artifacts are listed also in Wikipedia, we’ve randomly picked some artifacts to present below.

A. Ksanthos tomb inscription (5th c BC)

Towards the end of the 5th c. BC there is a tomb inscription of a boy, that of Ksanthos (ΞΑΝΘΟΣ). A piece of marble stone was used for this and the inscription says:

“ΞΑΝΘΟΣ/ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟ/Υ ΚΑΙ ΑΜΑ/ΔΙΚΑΣ ΥΙΟΣ.”

The ending of the mother’s name Αμαδίκας, in its doric form, confirms the use of the doric dialect in ancient Macedonia.

B. Pella curse tablet (4th c BC)

The Pella curse tablet. This is a very well-known artifact that also proves the doric dialect of the ancient Macedonians. The FYROMian propaganda will try to say that this was an artifact of Hellenized royalty, but they are wrong. This artifact was also produced by regular people, namely a woman possibly named Dagina whose lover Dionysophōn is apparently about to marry Thetima. Dagina is of low social status, as evidenced by her vocabulary and belief in magic, while all names involved are not recorded anywhere as royal.

 

C. Filisti greets Persephone (5th c BC)

From a non-royal tomb at Aigai: Filisti greets Persephone (Φιλίστη Φερσεφόνη χαίρειν). 5th c. BCE artifact written cleary in Greek.

 

D. Coins.

A multitude of coins all written in Greek even a couple centuries before Alexander the Great spread the Greek language. These coins were used by regular people in Macedonia not just the royalty. The names and words written on these coins were Greek. Isn’t it strange to write Greek on coins that the regular people would use every day if they didn’t speak Greek? To see the Greek writings on the Macedonian coins please click here: Ancient Macedonian coins

E. Amphipolis (352-350 BC) sale deed of a house.

Hatzopoulos, Mac. Inst. II 88

1 ἀγαθῆι τύχηι. Ἄ̣ρατ̣ος

τὴν οἰκίαν ἐ<π>ρίατο καὶ

τὸ οἰκόπε<δ>ον παρὰ Ἀν<τ>ι-

π<ά>τ<ρ>ου τοῦ <Κ>λ<ει>νία

5 καὶ Λααν<δ>ρίχου βεφαίως

κ<α>ὶ παγίως, αἷς γείτ<ω>ν

Δάμων, Δ̣ύν̣νιχος, στατ-

ήρων χ<ρ>υσῶν, φιλιππεί<ω>ν

δώδεκ<α>, ἡμιστ<α>τήρου.

10 βεβ<α>ιοτὴς τῆς οἰκί<α>ς

καὶ τοῦ οἰκο<π>έδου

Ἱππότ<α>ς, Λα<ά>νδριχος.

ἄρχει χρόνος ἐπὶ ἱερέ-

ως Ἑρμαγόρα, ἐπὶ ἐ-

15 πιστάτου Σπάργεως.

μάρτ<υ>ρες Φιλώτας

Ἀρω<γ>ομάχου,

Πολύαινος,

Διονύζιος,

20 Γαρρήσκιος.

F. Pydna curse tablets (4th c BCE)

6 curse tablets from the 4th century BC discovered in 1994–97. Three have only names, the others names followed by phrases that show that the curses were meant to affect lawsuits. These tablets are still under investigation but here is a pdf file for more info:

http://grbs.library.duke.edu/art…

G. Vessel found at Edessa (6th c BC)

Vessel of the classical period found in Edessa. On the base of the vessel the Greek name Ippomachas (“ΙΠΠΟΜΑΧΑΣ” ) is inscribed.

(Archaeological Museum of Edessa)

H. Heraklei Patroioi (end of the 4th century B.C)

link: Vergina (Site)

The most significant part of the palace at Vergina was the ‘Tholos’, a circular chamber circumscribed by a square, in the east wing of the building.

The ‘Tholos’ was used as shrine; by extension, it may be regarded as the “Throne Room”, since we know that the Macedonian kings held also the position of high-priest. Its ceremonial character is confirmed by a valuable inscription found in it; it read “Heraklei Patroioi” (to Herakles Patroos), and referred to Herakles, mythical progenitor of the Argead dynasty.

I. “ΕΥΡΥΔΙΚΑΣΙΡΡΑΕΥΚΛΕΙΑΙ” (Vergina, 4th century BC)

Base of statue dedicated to godess Efkleia by Philippos’ mother Evridiki. We can read the Greek words meaning “from Evridiki of Sirra to Efkleia”. Efkleia was a name that often accompanied the name of godess Artemis.

 

J. Arpalos stele (350 BC, Megali Toumpa)

“ΑΡΠΑΛΟΣ ΠΕΥΚΟΛΑΟΥ” a Macedonian name written in Greek.

K. Vergina (ancient Aegai), 330-320 BC.

Stele of Kleonymos excavated in the Megali Toumba in Vergina. You can clearly read on it the names of the 4 members of a family (Kleonymos of Akylos, Adymos of Kleonymos, Pefkolaos of Adymos and Krino of Adymos). All Greek names.

(Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki)

L. Goblet in Kozani, (ancient Eordaea Upper Macedonia 525-500 BC)

This has the Macedonian name ΜΑΧΑΤΑ[Σ] on it.

 

M. Macedonian names in Kozani (ancient Aiani, Upper Macedonia – 6th & 5th c BC) written in Greek

Arkapos (ΑΡΚΑΠΟΣ):

ΑΠΑqOΣ:

 

N. 67 grave stele (5th to 3rd c BC)

67 grave stele – most of them inscribed (SEG XXXV 771-808) -which were found scattered in the fill of Megali Toumba at Vergina, and which date to the last quarter of the 5th century and the first quarter of the 3rd century BC. All the names -a total of 84 survive, of which 75 are complete -with the exception of three are Greek. Indeed, most names were common throughout the whole of the Greek world, already known from the mythological traditions of the Greeks.”

O. Cemetery of Archontiko near Pella (6th c BC)

Found at a grave of a warrior. Letters say: “ΔΟΛΟΣ ΗΟ ΚΑΛΙΟΣ”

P. Another finding in a grave at Aiani (6th c BC)

Epigraph says: ΚΑΛΙΟΣ ΕΜΙ ΔΟΛΙΟ

Q. Silver vial, Kozani (5th c BC)

 

R. Part of the rim of a clay vase, at Aiani (second half 4th c BC)

Epigraph says: [ΦΙΛ]ΙΠΠΟΣ

S. Epigraph on a shell, Edessa museum (4th c BC)

Epigraph says (obviously in capital letters though):

 

Τ. Relief inscribed stele in Greek, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (mid 4th century B.C.)

 

U. The Derveni papyrus, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (340 BC, from an end 5th century BC original)

Derveni papyrus – Wikipedia

V. Golden ring with the epigraph «ΔΩΡΟΝ» from Sindos, near Thessaloniki, 475-450 BC.

W. Inscription on vase from Methone, Macedonia, 700 BC.

Bonus: Fragment of a vase in Linear B (Greek) circa 2nd half of 2nd millenium BC found in Aiani.

Conclusion

The artifacts do not lie; the conclusion is undeniable: The ancient Macedonian language was a Greek dialect. They were a Greek tribe.