Aegean languages

As Aegean languages ​​are referred to those languages ​​which were spoken before the immigration of Indo-European peoples in the eastern Mediterranean. Known from inscriptions are the Eteokretische, the Minoan, the Eteokyprische and tyrsenischen languages ​​( the Lemnian, the closely related Etruscan and the Rhaetian - being unclear whether the tyrsenischen languages ​​actually come from the Aegean region). In addition, we include a non- Indo-European elements only in Greek reconstructed speech to the named makeshift by the Pelasgians, but possibly is identical with another Aegean language.

Many Greek root words, especially local and plant names ending in- ss (eg κυπάρισσος Kyparissos " Cypress " ) or nth (eg Κόρινθος Korinthos ), which explained only by foreign, non- Greek influences leaves. Which of the Aegean languages ​​has this name now gives the Greek, is not yet determined. Also unresolved is the question of whether there were relationships between the Aegean languages.

Colin Renfrew speculates, however, that it is possibly early Indo-European proto-language of the side branches in the so-called Aegean languages.