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Pre-Greek Substrate

The pre-Greek substrate (or substratum) consists of the unknown pre-Greek language or languages (either Pre-Indo-European or other Indo-European languages) spoken in prehistoric Greece prior to the emergence of the Proto-Greek language in the region c. 3200–2200 BC, during the Early Helladic period.

For instance, terms like τολύπη ( tolúpē; 'clew, ball of wool ready for spinning') show typical pre-Greek features while being related to Anatolian words (in this case Luwian and Hittite taluppa/i-'lump, clod') with no other attested Indo-European cognate, suggesting that they were borrowed from the same probably non-Indo-European source. Social practices and institutions: ἅμιλλα, hámilla, 'contest, trial, sporting activity'; ἀτέμβω, atémbō, 'maltreat' or 'to be bereft or cheated of a thing'; ϝάναξ/ἄναξ, wánax/ ánax, 'lord, king'; θίασος, thíasos, ' thiasus, Bacchic revel'; τύραννος, týrannos, 'absolute ruler'. Theonyms: Ἀπόλλων, Apóllōn, Apollo; Ἄρης, Arēs, Ares; Ἄρτεμις, Ártemis, Artemis; Ἀσκληπιός, Asklēpiós, Asclepius; Ἀθήνη, Athḗnē, Athena; Ἄτλας, Átlās, Atlas; Διόνῡσος, Diónȳsos, Dionysus; Ἑρμῆς, Hermês, Hermes; Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos, Hephaestus; Ἰαπετός, Īapetós, Iapetus.

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