hariseldon2
hariseldon2 t1_ixi4q00 wrote
Reply to Might be a stupid question, but I've been watching a lot of stuff regarding the Spartan and Persians recently and I always wondered how would these people have communicated back then? Were there specific scholars in both countries that were trained in various languages? by herewego199209
More Greeks fought on the side of the Persians than they did on the side of the Greeks. These were cities that were vassals to Persia (Like in Asia Minor) or they were cities on the Greek mainland who simply thought that the Persians had a better chance and wanted to be on the winning side.
A few Greeks even famously changed sides midbattle (Thessalians).
Many Greek mercenaries from Athens and Sparta and other cities fought for the Persians both before and after the Peloponnesian wars. (see Xenophon)
All these Greek Vassals would have people speaking both languages by necessity.
There were even people in the Persian court who were Greek exiles.
hariseldon2 t1_j6dt57w wrote
Reply to comment by tibbidee in Reading In Another Language For Pleasure by 7mariam
The first couple of books I've read in English I couldn't get almost half the words but I got the sense of what was said. It helped that it was books I was familiar with already. Now I'm comfortable with everything.