Ancient Greek in
classical antiquity, before the development of the
κοινή (koiné) "common" language of
Hellenism, was divided into several
dialects. Most of these are known from inscriptions, but a few of them, principally
Aeolic (Lesbic),
Doric, and
Ionic, are also represented in the literary canon alongside the dominant
Attic form of literary Greek. Likewise,
Modern Greek is divided into several dialects, most of them having been derived from the koiné.