Calabrian Greek Dialect - The Root of Humanism

The Root of Humanism

It is important to highlight the presence of Calabrians in Humanism and in the Renaissance. Indeed the Greek scholars of this period frequently came from Calabria, maybe because of the influence of spoken Greek. The rediscovery of Ancient Greek was very difficult because this language had been almost forgotten. In this period the presence of Calabrian humanists as well as refugees from Constantinople was fundamental.

The study of Ancient Greek, in this period, was mainly a work of two monks of the monastery of Seminara: Barlaam, bishop of Gerace, and his disciple, Leonzio Pilato.

Leonzio Pilato, in particular, was an ethnic Greek Calabrian born near Reggio Calabria. He was an important teacher of Ancient Greek and translator, and he helped Giovanni Boccaccio in the translations of Homer's works.