Molossian

Molossian refers to things related to the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribal group of Epirus in northwestern Greece (with some territory extending into parts of what is now southern Albania). The Molossians were one of the principal Greek groups in Epirus and, later, a dynastic kingdom under the Aeacidae, a line that produced notable rulers such as Pyrrhus of Epirus. Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great, was a Molossian princess, illustrating the family's connections to broader Hellenic history.

Geographically, the Molossians inhabited the region of Epirus, a mountainous area along the Ionian coast. They interacted with neighboring Greek groups such as the Chaonians and Thesprotians and participated in the wider Greek world of city-states and leagues. In the Hellenistic period, their kingdom played a visible, if contested, role in Mediterranean politics, most famously under Pyrrhus, whose campaigns against Rome are well documented.

Linguistically, Molossian denotes a dialect of ancient Greek associated with the Molossians, often categorized as a Northwest Greek variant. Our knowledge of Molossian speech comes from limited inscriptions and classical references, and it is discussed within the study of Greek dialects rather than as a fully preserved language.

In addition, the term refers to the Molossus, an ancient large guardian dog breed originating in Molossian Epirus. The Molossus is cited by ancient writers as an ancestral source for several modern mastiff-type dogs.

Today, Molossian is chiefly used in historical, linguistic, and zoological contexts, signaling connections to the Epirus-based Molossians and their legacy in ancient Greece.