Äolisch

Äolisch is a term that refers to a specific style of ancient Greek poetry and a related dialect of the Greek language. As a poetic style, Äolisch poetry is characterized by its personal and emotional content, often focusing on themes of love, friendship, and everyday life. It stands in contrast to the more epic and public poetry of the time, such as Homeric epics. The most prominent poets associated with the Äolic style are Sappho of Lesbos and Alcaeus of Mytilene, both active in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Their works, though fragmentary, reveal a distinct lyric voice and a sophisticated use of meter.

The Äolic dialect itself was spoken in the region of Äolis in northwestern Asia Minor, as well as on the island of Lesbos. It was one of the major dialects of Ancient Greek during the Archaic and Classical periods, alongside Ionic, Attic, Doric, and Arcado-Cypriot. While sharing commonalities with other Greek dialects, Äolic possessed unique phonetic and grammatical features. For instance, it often exhibited a particular vowel change known as Äolische Kontraktion, where two vowels merged into a single long vowel. The poetry of Sappho and Alcaeus was composed in this dialect, contributing to its literary prestige. Although Attic Greek eventually became the dominant literary and administrative language, the influence of Äolisch poetry, particularly Sappho's, continued to resonate throughout ancient Greek literature and beyond.