This post has been de-listed
It is no longer included in search results and normal feeds (front page, hot posts, subreddit posts, etc). It remains visible only via the author's post history.
In the late 4th century, the Latin poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius, from Burdigala (Bordeaux), wrote a first-person poem from his father's perspective: (Ausonius, Epicedion in patrem 9–10)
It suggests he spoke only awkwardly in Latin "but the language of Athens provided me with sufficient words of polished eloquence."
I know that Greeks colonized southern Gaul, particularly the city of Massalia, but I'd assumed this cultural imprint had faded by the 4th century. Was the Bordeaux area Greek-speaking at this late date?
Or is it more likely that Ausonius's father grew up speaking Gaulish, but learned to speak Greek because he acquired the language to become a doctor/become educated? And perhaps there weren't many Latin speakers around, with most of the local discourse being in Gaulish?
How widespread was Latin in southern Gaul by the 4th century?
Any hypotheses welcome.
Subreddit
Post Details
- Posted
- 7 months ago
- Reddit URL
- View post on reddit.com
- External URL
- reddit.com/r/AskHistoria...