Such zones were to become typical of Laconian vase painting. Spirantization of occurred earlier in Laconian Greek. Some view this as having contributed to the characteristically blunt Laconian speech. The leading shape of Laconian pottery is the "kylix". Additionally, a significant number of Laconian vases were discovered on Samos. Pliny mentions his "Laconian Dancers". Philoxenus of Alexandria wrote a treatise "On the Laconian dialect". Alcman's songs were composed in the Doric dialect of Sparta (the so-called Laconian dialect). It is probable that the Laconian craftsmen were perioeci pottery painters. In 192 BC, Nabis attempted to recapture the Laconian coastline. It may also suggest the possible presence of Laconian craftsmen at that site. The clay of Laconian vases is orange, quite refined and of high quality. The island, Elafonisos, situated between the Laconian mainland and Kythira, is part of Laconia. Though landlocked, Sparta had a harbor, Gytheio, on the Laconian Gulf. Polycrates of Samos imported Molossian and Laconian dogs to the island.