Why were some Second Sophistic writers called Atticists?

Some writers of the Second Sophistic movement were known as Atticists because they were part of a backward-looking movement that sought to revive the Greek spirit by modeling their prose on the works of Athenian writers from the 5th and 4th centuries BCE.1

The term is derived from the Greek word Attikos, meaning "Athenian". These writers consciously rejected the common spoken language of their own time, known as Koine, in favor of the classical Attic dialect—the prestigious language used by celebrated figures such as Thucydides, Plato, and Demosthenes. By adopting the linguistic style and standards of these ancient masters, Atticists aimed to emulate the literary excellence of Athens' golden age.12