Storia del Griko Salentino - Amore Di Puglia

Editorial Staff 28 May 2022

Griko Salentino is one of the two varieties of modern Greek spoken in Italy (the other is Grecanico spoken in Calabria).

In the year 1000 the diffusion of the Greek language in Salento covered the entire territory, reaching as far as the Taranto-Brindisi line.

As late as the 13th century, the splendid monastery of San Nicola di Casole in Otranto housed one of the richest libraries in Europe and a circle of Greek-language poets. Among these, Giorgio di Gallipoli and Nicola di Otranto are worthy of mention. Unfortunately, the monastery was destroyed following the brief Turkish capture of Otranto in 1480.

In the 14th-15th century, Greek had already significantly reduced in comparison to its former diffusion, however it was still spoken in places such as Galatina, Galatone, Casarano, and above all Gallipoli.

Subsequently, the Hellenic-speaking area was further restricted to include only these municipalities, defined precisely as Grecìa Salentina.

Sternatia
Zollino
Castrignano dei Greci
Calimera
Soleto
Melpignano
Martignano
Corigliano d’Otranto
Martano

The origins of Griko

Byzantine theory = according to this theory, systematically treated by the Milanese linguist Giuseppe Morosi (1844-1891), the Griko Salentino would have its origins in the Byzantine period. This theory in fact considers it impossible that with the Roman conquest, in Italy, languages alloglot to Latin survived for a long time;
Magna Graecia theory = formulated by the German scholar Rohlfs. According to this theory, Greek has been spoken in Salento without interruption since the times of Magna Graecia.
Hybrid theory. To the two main theories is added that of the Italian philologist Domenico Comparetti (1835-1927), who believed that the development of Griko Salentino and Grecanico Calabrese had been equally contributed by waves of populations both in the classical and Byzantine ages.

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History of Griko Salentino

The origins of Griko

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History of Griko Salentino

The origins of Griko

Written by Editorial Staff

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