During the Hellenistic period, most scholars thought of Koine as the result of the mixture of the four main Ancient Greek dialects, "ἡ ἐκ τῶν τεττάρων συνεστῶσα" (the composition of the Four).
În timpul epocii elenistice, majoritatea erudiților considerau Koine ca fiind rezultatul amestecării celor patru mari dialecte grecești antice, "ἡ ἐκ τῶν τεττάρων συνεστῶσα" (compunerea celor patru).