Were the Ancient Macedonians Really Greeks?

The question of whether the ancient Macedonians were Greeks has been extensively debated. Many sources support the assertion that the ancient Macedonians were indeed Greeks, while some propose that they spoke a different language or had a distinct ethnic identity. This article delves into the evidence supporting the Greek identity of the ancient Macedonians and the linguistic and cultural ties that bound them to the broader Greek world.

Evidence for the Greek Identity of the Ancient Macedonians

The idea that the ancient Macedonians were not Greeks is often challenged by historical and linguistic evidence. Every ancient inscription found within the borders of ancient Macedonia indicates that the language used was Greek. These inscriptions, numbering around 6,400, are written in various dialects but all fall under the Greek linguistic sphere.

Historical sources such as Plutarch, Arrian, Diodorus Siculus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, and Justin explicitly identify the Macedonians as Greeks. These authors describe the Macedonians as distinct from the barbarians, emphasizing their Greek cultural and linguistic identity. Furthermore, biblical sources also refer to the Macedonians as Greeks.

Toponyms, prosoponyms (personal names), and the worship of ancient Greek gods and Greek mythical figures in Makedon provide additional support for the Greek identity of the Macedonians. Their participation in ancient Greek religious and cultural festivals, such as the Olympics, further solidifies their ties to the broader Greek cultural landscape.

Linguistic Theories about the Ancient Macedonian Language

While the ancient Macedonians were overwhelmingly seen as Greeks, linguistic theories suggest that their dialect might have been distinct within the Greek language family. There are three main theories regarding the Macedonian dialect:

A Greek dialect from the Northwest Doric group of dialects

A Greek dialect related to or a version of Aeolic Greek

A sister language of Greek within a Greco-Macedonian subgroup

Academics who support the first two theories significantly outweigh those who believe the third theory. However, even among the proponents of the third theory, there is often a degree of uncertainty or qualification. Despite these varying perspectives, all academic evidence discovered thus far indicates that the ancient Macedonians spoke a dialect of Greek. This is further evidenced by a tablet katadesmos from the Pella Cemetery, which is classified as a Northwest Greek dialect influenced by Attic syntax.

By the 5th century BC, the Macedonian nobility began to adopt Attic Greek, a trend that continued with the development of Koine Greek, the language that evolved into medieval Greek, and eventually modern Greek. Thus, the linguistic landscape of ancient Macedonia evolved from regional Greek dialects to Koine Greek, mirroring the broader linguistic shifts within the Greek-speaking world.

Modern Interpretations and Concurrences

Modern Greek Macedonians, who currently speak Greek and hold Greek passports, generally find the notion that the ancient Macedonians spoke Slavic to be nonsensical. This is validated by the fact that the Slavs did not arrive in the Balkans until much later, after the reign of Alexander the Great. Therefore, the idea that the ancient Macedonians spoke a Slavic language is entirely without historical or linguistic basis.

For present-day Slavic ethnic Macedonians, the educated among them acknowledge that there is no evidence to support the idea that their South Slavic language is a direct descendant of ancient Macedonian. Some less educated individuals still hold onto the notion of a non-Slavic migration. However, all ethnic Macedonians emphatically reject the idea that the ancient Macedonians spoke an Ancient Greek dialect. They argue that the only linguistic evidence shows that the ancient Macedonians spoke a sister language to Greek, a theory that remains unsubstantiated by concrete historical evidence.

Regardless of these theories and debates, it is clear that the ancient Macedonians maintained a strong connection to the Greek linguistic and cultural traditions, which continued to evolve and influence the modern Greek language and identity.