Pontic Greeks Έλληνες του Πόντου - Ρωμιοί
Pontic Greek Man
Total population
ca. Since the time of Homer, some Greeks have called themselves Hellenes ( in Homer "Hellas" (Eλλάς and "Hellenes" were names of 3,000,000 (est. )
Regions with significant populations
Greece, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkey
Languages
Predominantely Modern and Pontic Greek, also the languages of their respective countries. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Modern Greek (el Νέα Ελληνικά or el Νεοελληνική lit Pontic Greek is a form of the Greek language originally spoken in the Pontus area on the southern shores of the Black Sea, and today mainly in Greece
Religions
Greek Orthodox, Sunni Islam

The term Pontic Greeks, Pontian Greeks, Pontians or Greeks of Pontus (Greek: Πόντιοι, Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός or Έλληνες του Πόντου, Turkish: Pontus Rumları) refers to generally all Greeks from the shores of the Black Sea and Pontus, an area which was also inhabited and invaded by the Persians, Romans, Mongols , Georgians, Russians and Turks. The Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is formed by several autocephalous churches Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Georgians (ქართველები kartvelebi) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus, the oldest group of the The Russian people (Русские— Russkie) are an East Slavic Ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries The Turkic peoples are Eurasian peoples residing in northern central and western Eurasia who speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family They traditionally speak Pontic, a distinct form of the Greek language which, due to the remoteness of Pontus, led to a process of linguistic evolution different from that of the rest of the Greek world. Pontic Greek is a form of the Greek language originally spoken in the Pontus area on the southern shores of the Black Sea, and today mainly in Greece Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly

Contents 1 History of Greek Colonization of the Black Sea 2 Persecutions and population exchange 2.1 Settlements 3 Population 4 Culture 4.1 Education 4.2 Music 4.3 Dance 5 Notable Pontic Greeks 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

History of Greek Colonization of the Black Sea

The first notions of Greek presence in the Black Sea area can be traced back to Greek mythology. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance It is the region where Jason and the Argonauts sailed to find the Golden Fleece. Jason ( Greek: Ἰάσων, Etruscan: Easun, Laz: Yason) was a late ancient Greek mythological For other uses of this term see Argonaut. In Greek mythology, the Argonauts ( Ancient Greek:) were a band of heroes In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece (Χρυσόμαλλον Δέρας is the fleece of the winged ram Chrysomallos (Χρυσόμαλλος The myth was formally documented by Apollonius of Rhodes in his work, the Argonautica. The Argonautica ( Greek:) is a Greek Epic poem written by Apollonius Rhodius in the 3rd century BCE. Modern historians date the expedition of the Argo around 1200 BC based on the description given by Apollonius.

The first recorded Greek colony, established on the northern shores of ancient Anatolia, was Sinop circa 800 BC. Sinop ( Greek: Σινώπη /Sinope is a city with a population of 47000 on İnce Burun ( İnceburun, Cape Ince) by its The settlers of Sinop were merchants from the Ionian Greek city state of Miletus. Miletus (mī lē' təs ( Ancient Greek: Μίλητος literally Transliterated Milētos, Latin Miletus) was an Ancient After the colonization of the shores of the Black Sea, known till then to the Greek world as Pontos Axeinos (Inhospitable Sea), the name changed to Pontos Euxeinos (Hospitable Sea). In time, as the numbers of Greeks settling in the region significantly grew, more colonies were established along the whole Black Sea coastline of what is now Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania

The region of Trapezus, later called Trebizond, now Trabzon, was mentioned by Xenophon in his famous work Anabasis, describing how he and other 10,000 Greek mercenaries fought their way to the Euxine Sea after the rebellion of Cyrus the Younger whom they fought for, against his older brother Artaxerxes II of Persia, failed. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Xenophon (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek "Ξενοφών" "Ξενοφώντας" ca The Ten Thousand were a group of Mercenary units mainly Greek, drawn up by Cyrus the Younger to attempt to wrest the throne of the Persian Empire The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Cyrus (Kuruš the Younger, son of Darius II of Persia (Dārayavahuš and Parysatis, was a Persian prince and General. Artaxerxes II Mnemon ( Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠 Artaxšaçrā, Ἀρταξέρξης (ca Xenophon mentions that when at the sight of sea they screamed 'Thalatta! Thalatta! ("The sea! The sea!"), the local people understood them. A whole range of trade flourished among the various Greek colonies, but also with the indigenous tribes who inhabited the Pontus inland. Soon Trebizond established a leading stature among the other colonies and the region nearby become the heart of the Pontic Greek culture and civilization.

This region was organized in circa 281 BC as a kingdom by Mithridates I of Pontus, whose ancestry line dated back to Ariobarzanes I, a ruler of the Greek town of Cius. Mithridates I Ctistes (in Greek Mιθριδάτης Kτίστης; reigned 302 BC - 266 BC was the founder (this is the meaning of the word Ctistes Ariobarzanes (in Greek Aριoβαρζάνης is the first known of the line of rulers of the Greek town of Cius from which were eventually to stem the Cius-Kios ( Greek: Kίος, or Kείος, also Transliterated as Kios and Keios, and later Prusa, Prusias The most prominent descendant of Mithridates I was Mithridates VI of Pontus, who between 90 and 65 BC fought the Mithridatic Wars, three bitter wars against the Roman Republic before eventually being defeated. See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates There were three Mithridatic Wars between Rome and Pontus in the first century BC The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Mithridates VI the Great, as he was left in memory, claiming to be the protector of the Greek world against the barbarian Romans, expanded his kingdom to Bithynia, Crimea and Propontis before his downfall after the Third Mithridatic War. Description Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as Sea of Marmara) Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Cius Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым The Sea of Marmara ( Turkish: Marmara Denizi, Greek: Θάλασσα του Μαρμαρά or Προποντίς, Bulgarian The Third Mithridatic War ( 75 - 65 BC) was one of three Mithridatic Wars fought between Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman Republic

Nevertheless the kingdom survived as a Roman vassal state, now named Bosporan Kingdom and based in Crimea, until the 4th century AD, when it succumbed to the Huns. A vassal (also called feodary or fedary) in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of Medieval Europe, The Bosporan Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was an ancient state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy The rest of Pontus and particularly the Trebizond region were fully incorporated into the Byzantine Empire for the centuries to come. Pontus was the birthplace of the Komnenos dynasty, which ruled the empire from 1082 to 1185, a time in which the empire resurged from it's ashes to recover much of Anatolia from the Seljuk Turks. The Komnenian restoration is the term used by Byzantinists to describe the military financial and territorial recovery of the Byzantine Empire under the Komnenian The Seljuq (also Seljuq Turks, Seldjuks, Seldjuqs, Seljuks; in Turkish Selçuklular; in Ṣaljūqīyān; in

On the aftermath of the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the Empire of Trebizond was established by Alexios I of Trebizond, a descendant of Alexios I Komnenos, the patriarch of the Komnenos dynasty. The Fourth Crusade (1202&ndash1204 was originally designed to conquer Muslim Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. The Empire of Trebizond ( was a Byzantine Greek successor state of the Byzantine Empire founded in 1204 as a result of the capture of Constantinople Alexios I Megas Komnenos or Alexius I Comnenus ( Greek: Αλέξιος Α΄ Μέγας Κομνηνός Alexios I Megas Komnēnos; c Alexios I Komnenos, or Comnenus (Greek Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός (1048 &ndash August 15, 1118) Byzantine emperor (1081&ndash1118 This empire lasted for more than 250 years until eventually falling at the hands of Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire in 1461, thus becoming the last part of the Greek world to succumb. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish

During the Ottoman period many Pontic Greeks converted to Islam either forcibly or voluntarily. Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. On the eve of World War I the Young Turk administration exerted a policy of assimilation and ethnic cleansing of the Christians in the Empire, which affected Pontic Greeks too. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Young Turks ( Turkish: Jön Türkler (plural from French: Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favoring reforming the In 1916 Trabzon fell at the hands of the Russian Empire, fomenting the idea of an independent Pontic state. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya As the Bolsheviks rose to power with the October Revolution (7 November 1917), the Russian military withdrew from the region to participate in the Russian Civil War (1917 - 1923). The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists ( Большевик Большевист (singular, derived from bolshe, "more" were a faction The October Revolution (Октябрьская революция Oktyabrskaya revolyutsiya) also known as the Soviet Revolution Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Russian Civil War (1917–1923 was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed

Once the Russians had evacuated Pontus, Greeks and Armenians in the region became the target of irregular bands. Seeing the fate of Armenians, Pontic Greeks decided to resist in what became known as the Pontus resistance (αντάρτικο του Πόντου in Greek), which lasted up to 1924, the year when the population exchange between Greece and Turkey was agreed under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey is the first large-scale population exchange, or agreed mutual expulsion in the 20th century The Treaty of Lausanne ( July 24, 1923) was a Peace treaty signed in Lausanne that settled the Anatolian part of the Partitioning While Christian Pontics were expelled to Greece the Muslim ones stayed. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Rumca, as the Pontic Greek language is known in Turkey, survives till today, mostly among the elderly. After the exchange most Pontic Greeks settled in Macedonia and Attica. Macedonia ( Μακεδονία, Makedonía,) is a geographical and historical region of Greece in southeastern Europe Attica (Αττική Attikí;) is a periphery (subdivision in Greece, containing Athens, the capital of Greece Pontic Greeks inside the Soviet Union were predominantly settled in the regions bordering the Georgian SSR and Armenian SSR. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (საქართველოს საბჭოთასოციალისტური რესპუბლიკა The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (Հայկական ՍովետականՍոցիալիստական Հանրապետություն Haykakan Sovetakan Sotsialistakan Hanrapetutyun They had also notable presence in Black Sea ports like Odessa and Sukhumi. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey ODESSA which stands for the German phrase O rganisation d er e hemaligen SS - A ngehörigen which in turn translates Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital About 100,000 Pontic Greeks, including 37,000 in the Caucasus area alone, were deported to Central Asia in 1949 during Stalin's post-war deportations. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Forced settlements in the Soviet Union took several forms Though the most notorious was the Gulag Labor camp system of Penal labor, resettling of entire Big indigenous communities exist today in former USSR states, while through immigration large numbers can be found in Germany and Australia. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

Persecutions and population exchange

Part of the series on Greeks Greek culture Art · Cinema · Cuisine Dance · Dress · Literature Music · Philosophy · Religion Sport · Television By region or country Greece · Cyprus Greek diaspora Subgroups Antiochians Arvanites · Cappadocians Cypriots · Greek Muslims Hayhurums  · Karamanlides Maniots  · Pontians Romaniotes  · Sarakatsani Tsakonians · Urums Religion Greek Orthodox Church Roman Catholicism Greek Catholicism Greek Evangelicalism Judaism · Islam Neopaganism Languages and dialects Greek Calabrian Greek Cappadocian Greek Cretan Greek · Griko Cypriot Greek · Pontic Greek Tsakonian · Yevanic Meglenitic · Aromanian Arvanitika · Slavika Karamanlidika · Urum History v • d • e

Like Armenians and Assyrians , the Pontic Greeks faced persecution and suffered ethnic cleansing at the beginning of the 20th century by the Ottoman Empire first and Kemalist forces later. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years with its beginnings in the Mycenaean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece Greece has a rich and varied artistic history spanning some 5000 years Greece has a long and rich cinematic history The country that gave rise to Western civilisation has produced many famous film actors and directors The Greek cuisine ( Greek: Ελληνική Κουζίνα is Greece's traditional Cuisine, a typical Mediterranean cuisine Contemporary Greek dance is a very old tradition being referred to by ancient authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years with its beginnings in the Mycenaean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece Greek literature refers to those writings autochthonic to the areas of Greek influence typically though not necessarily in one of the Greek dialects throughout the The musical legacy of Greece is as diverse as its history. Cypriot music has certain similarities to traditional Greek Music, and their Ancient Greek philosophy focused on the role of Reason and Inquiry. The Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is formed by several autocephalous churches The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years with its beginnings in the Mycenaean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece Television broadcasting in Greece began in 1966 with the first network EPT (Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi broadcasting out of Athens, as a state-owned Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía The Greek diaspora (ελληνική διασπορά elliniki diaspora) is a term used to refer to the communities of Greek people living outside of the traditional Antiochian Greeks are the members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch who have resided in the territory of contemporary Turkish province of Hatay. Cappadocian, also known as Cappadocian Greek or Asia Minor Greek is a dialect of the Greek language, formerly spoken in Cappadocia (Central Turkey Greek Cypriots ( Greek: Ελληνοκύπριοι Turkish: Kıbrıslı Rumlar are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus. Greek Muslims, also known as Greek-speaking Muslims, are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin and are found primarily in Turkey, Cyprus Hayhurum is the name given to Armenian -speaking Christians who are members of Greek Orthodox Church. The Karamanlides ( Greek: Καραμανλήδες; Turkish: Karamanlılar) or simply Karamanlis, are a Greek Orthodox The Maniots (or Maniates; Greek Μανιάτες) are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula (the middle leg of the Peloponnese located The Romaniotes ( Greek: Ρωμανιώτες, Rōmaniōtes are a Jewish population who have lived in the territory of today's Greece and The Sarakatsani (Σαρακατσάνοι are a group of Greek transhumant shepherds in Greece. Tsakonians ( Greek: Τσάκωνες Tsákones) are an ethnic Greek population group speakers of the Tsakonian dialect or more broadly Urums, singular Urum u'rum ( Greek: Ουρούμ Urúm, Turkish: Urum, Crimean Tatar: Urum) is a broad historical The Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is formed by several autocephalous churches The Roman Catholic Church in Greece is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome The Greek Byzantine Catholic Church is a Sui iuris Particular Church within the Catholic Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite The Greek Evangelical Church ( Greek: Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία Elliniki Evangeliki Ekklisia) is a Protestant denomination in There have been organized Jewish communities in Greece for more than two thousand years Islam in Greece is represented by a number of autochthonous and immigrant communities Hellenic Polytheistic Reconstructionism (also Hellenic Reconstructionism) refers to various reconstructionist movements that revive ancient Greek religious practices Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Cappadocian, also known as Cappadocian Greek or Asia Minor Greek is a dialect of the Greek language, formerly spoken in Cappadocia (Central Turkey Cretan Greek ( Cretan dialect &mdash in Greek, Kritikí diálektos &ndash Κρητική διάλεκτος or Kritiká Κρητικά Griko, sometimes spelled Grico, is a Modern Greek dialect which is spoken by people in the Magna Graecia region in southern Italy, and it The Cypriot Dialect of Greek ( Cypriot Greek ( Κυπριακή διάλεκτος) or Kypriaka ( Greek: Κυπριακά Pontic Greek is a form of the Greek language originally spoken in the Pontus area on the southern shores of the Black Sea, and today mainly in Greece Tsakonian, Tzakonian or Tsakonic ( Greek Τσακωνικά) is a dialect of modern Greek spoken in the Tsakonian region Yevanic, otherwise known as Romaniote and Judeo-Greek, was the Dialect of the Romaniotes, the group of Greek Jews whose existence in Megleno-Romanian (known as Vlăheşte by speakers and Moglenitic, Meglenitic or Megleno-Romanian by linguists is a Romance language Aromanian ( limba armãneascã, armãneshce or armãneashti) also known as Macedo-Romanian, Arumanian or Vlach in most Arvanitika or Arvanitic ( Albanian: Arbërisht, Greek: αρβανίτικα arvanitika) is the variety of Albanian The Slavic dialects of Greece are the dialects of Bulgarian or Macedonian spoken by minority groups in the regions of Macedonia and Thrace Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Urum is a Turkic language spoken by several thousand people who inhabit a few villages in the Southeastern Ukraine and in Diaspora communities world The History of Greece traditionally encompasses the study of the Greek people, the areas they ruled historically and the territory now composing the modern state of The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large The Assyrians are an Ethnic group whose origins lie in what is today Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. During World War I and its aftermath (1914-1923 the The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Death marches^[1] through Turkeys mountainous terrain, forced labour in the famous "Amele Tamburu" in Anatolia and slaughter by the irregular bands of Topal Osman resulted in thousands of them perishing during the period from 1915 to 1922. Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black Topal Osman Agha (1883 Giresun &ndash April 1, 1923) was a colonel of the late Ottoman Empire and early Republic of Turkey Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In 1923, after hundreds of years, those remaining were expelled from Turkey to Greece as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey defined by the Treaty of Lausanne. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey is the first large-scale population exchange, or agreed mutual expulsion in the 20th century The Treaty of Lausanne ( July 24, 1923) was a Peace treaty signed in Lausanne that settled the Anatolian part of the Partitioning In his book Black Sea, author Neal Ascherson writes:^[2]

The Turkish guide-books on sale in the Taksim Meydane offer this account of the 1923 Katastrofĕ: 'After the proclamation of the Republic, the Greeks who lived in the region returned to their own country [. Charles Neal Ascherson (born October 5, 1932) is a Scottish Journalist. . . ]. ' Their own country? Returned? They had lived in the Pontos for nearly three thousand years. Their Pontic dialect was not understandable to twentieth-century Athenians.

The suffering of the Pontic Greeks did not end upon their violent and forceful departure from the lands of their ancestors. Many Pontic Greek refugees perished during the voyage from Asia Minor to Greece. Notable accounts of these voyages have been included in Steve Papadopoulos’ work on Pontic culture and history. Pontic Greek immigrants of the United States from that era were quoted saying;

Many children and elderly died during the voyage to Greece. When the crew realized they were dead, they were thrown overboard. Soon the mothers of such children started pretending that they were still alive. After witnessing what was done to the deceased,they would hold on to them and comfort them as if they were still alive. They did this to give them a proper burial in Greece.

Settlements

Some of the settlements historically inhabited by Pontic Greeks include:

• In Crimea and the northern Azov Sea:

Chersonesos, Kerkinitida, Panticapaeum, Soughdaia, Tanais, Theodosia. Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым The Sea of Azov (Азо́вское мо́ре - Azovskoye more; Азо́вське мо́ре - Azovs'ke more, Azaq deñizi is the world's shallowest sea linked Chersonesos (Χερσόνησος Chersonesus Old East Slavic: Корсунь Korsun; Херсонес Khersones; also transliterated as Chersonese For the lake Kerkinitis see Kerkini Eupatoria or Yevpatoria (Євпаторія Евпатория Kezlev Eupatoria Kerkinitis is a city in Crimea Panticapaeum ( Greek: Παντικάπαιον Pantikápaion) present-day Kerch: an important Greek city and port in Taurica (Tauric Sudak or Sudaq (Sudaq Судак is a small historic town located in Crimea, Ukraine situated to the west of Feodosiya (the nearest railway Tanais ( Greek: Τάναϊς Tánaïs) is the ancient name for the River Don in Russia.

• On the Taman peninsula,Krasnodar Krai and the Colchian coast:

Batis, Dioscurias, Germonassa, Gorgippa, Heraclea Pontica, Phanagoria, Phasis, Pitsunda, Sebastopolis. Taman links here For other uses see Taman (disambiguation The Taman Peninsula is a Peninsula in the present-day Krasnodar Krai (Краснода́рский край Krasnodarsky kray) is a federal subject of Russia (a Krai) located in the Southern In ancient Geography, Colchis or Kolchis ( Georgian and Laz: კოლხეთი k'olxeti; Greek:, Kolchís Batumi (ბათუმი formerly Batum or Batoum) is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and Capital of Adjara, an Autonomous Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital Tmutarakan (Тмутаракань is an ancient city that controlled the Cimmerian Bosporus, the passage from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Anapa (Ана́паАнапэ originally is a seaport for the Natkhuay tribe Adyghe_people, and now a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Heraclea Pontica ( Greek: Ηράκλεια Ποντική modern day Karadeniz Ereğli, in the Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Phanagoria was the largest Greek colony on the Taman peninsula, spreading on two plateaux along the Asian shore of the Cimmerian Bosporus, 25 kilometers Poti (ფოთი is a Port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Pitsunda (ҵҵунда Georgian: ბიჭვინთა - Bichvinta Пицунда) is a Resort town in Gagra district of the Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital

• In "Pontus":

Amasia, Aphene, Kerasounta, Kissa, Kromna, Amisos, Sinope, Themiscyra, Trapezounta, Bafra, Argyroupolis, Xeroiana (Sheroina), Ofis, Santa, Tonya, Matsouka, Galiana, Sourmena, Imera, Rizounta, Mouzena, Kotoiora, Livera, Platana, Kel Kit, Nikopolis, Kakatsis, Merzifounta, Tokat, Oinoe, Neokaisareia, Fatsa, Tripoli, Thermi, Hatzi-koi, Komana, Hopa, Athina, Koloneia, Gemoura, Ak-Dag Maten. Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges Amasya (Ἀμάσεια the Amaseia of antiquity or Αμάσεια Amáseia) is the administrative district of Amasya Province in northern Turkey Giresun ( Greek: Κερασούντα, Pharnacia, Choerades) is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Themiscyra may refer to Themiscyra (Pontus Themiscyra Plain Themiscyra (mythology See also Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Bafra is a district of Samsun Province of Turkey. History As a settlement Bafra dates back to the fifth millennium BC Gümüşhane is a city in northeastern Turkey and the seat of Gümüşhane Province. Şiran is a town and district of Gümüşhane Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Of is a town and district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Dumanlı ( Greek Σάντα, Santa) is a mid-size town in the border of Trabzon and Gümüşhane in Pontos. For the pre-modern Japanese trade association see Tonya (Japan. Maçka (Matsouka is a town and district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Sürmene ( Greek: Σούρμενα Sourmena) is a town and a district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Rize ( Greek: Riza, რიზე Ռիզե is the capital of Rize Province, in northeast Turkey, on the Black Sea Akçaabat is a town and district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Kelkit is a town and district of Gümüşhane Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Şebinkarahisar is a town and a district of Giresun Province in the Black Sea region of eastern Turkey. Merzifon is a town and district in Amasya Province in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. Tokat is the capital city of Tokat Province of Turkey, at the mid Black Sea region of Anatolia. Ünye is a large town and district of Ordu Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, 76km west of the city of Ordu. Niksar is a city in Tokat Province, Turkey. It has been settled by many empires over the centuries and it was once the capital city of the province Fatsa is a town and a large district of Ordu Province in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. Tirebolu (formerly Tripoli; Greek Τρίπολις is a district and town of Giresun Province, Turkey, the Ancient Greek and Byzantine Terme (formerly spelled Termeh) is a town the headquarters of Terme District, Samsun Province, Turkey. Gümüşhacıköy, on the site of the Roman city of Etonia, is the westernmost district of Amasya Province of Turkey, 20km from the larger town of Komana is a village in North-West District of Botswana. It is located close to the Okavango Delta and Lake Ngami. Hopa ( Laz: Xopa Georgian: ხოფა Armenian: Հոպա Russian: Хопа also known as Khupati, Khopta, or Pazar is a town and district of Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, 37 km east of the city of Rize. Koyulhisar is a town and a district of Sivas Province of Turkey. Yomra is a town and district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Akdağmadeni is a town and district of Yozgat Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

• Outside Pontus:

Kars, Kioumush Maten, Sevasteia, Tsoroum, Baibourt, Ata Pazar. Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges Kars may refer to Kars Turkey Kars Province, Turkey Kars Oblast, Russian Empire Kars Province Balya is a town and district of Balıkesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. Sivas (the late-Classical and Medieval Sebastia, sometimes spelt Sebastea or Sebasteia, Greek: Σεβάστεια, Armenian Çorum is the capital of Çorum Province inland from the Black Sea coast in central Turkey. Bayburt ( Armenian: Բաբերդ, Baberd) is the provincial capital of Turkey 's Bayburt Province. Adapazarı is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of Sakarya Province.

• On the southwestern coast of Ukraine and the Eastern Balkans:

Antiphilos, Apollonia, Germonakris, Mesembria, Nikonis, Odessos, Olbia, Tira. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Sozopol (Созопол Sozopolis Antheia Apollonia is a ancient town and seaside resort located 15 km south of Burgas on the southern Bulgarian Black Nesebar (ˈneseʙɑːr Bulgarian: Несебър Nesebăr, Thracian: Menebria Greek: Μεσημβρια Mesimvria, previously Varna (Варна is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv Olbia ( Sardinian: Terranoa, Gallurese: Tarranoa) is a town of approximately 51000 inhabitants in northeastern

Population

Nowadays, the exact number of Pontic Greeks is unknown, due to extensive intermarriage. Following 1988, Pontic Greeks in the Soviet Union started to migrate to Greece with their often mixed families and settling in and around Athens and Thessaloniki. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia They are known as "Russian Pontians" (Ρωσσοπόντιοι) by the Greek public. In his 1998 movie From the Edge of the City (Από την άκρη της πόλης),^[3] with dialogues in Greek, Pontic Greek and Russian, the film director Constantinos Giannaris, describes the life of a young "Russian Pontian" from Kazakhstan in the Athens' prostitution underworld. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the The largest communities of Pontic Greeks (or people of Pontic Greek descent) around the world are (according to Pontian Diaspora 2000):

• Greece >2,000,000
• USA c. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 200,000
• Germany c. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. 100,000
• Russia c. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending 98,000
• Ukraine c. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. 91,500
• Australia c. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 56,000
• Canada c. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page 20,000
• Georgia c. Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between 15,166
• Kazakhstan c. Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the 12,703
• Uzbekistan c. Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly 9,500
• Armenia c. Greeks and Armenians have had a long cultural religious and political relationship dating back to antiquity and strengthening during the Byzantine and 2,000
• Syria <1,000

There is also a sizeable Greek-speaking Muslim Pontian community of around 300,000 (in 1996) in Turkey, see Pontic Greek Muslims. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Greek Muslims, also known as Greek-speaking Muslims, are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin and are found primarily in Turkey, Cyprus

Culture

The culture of Pontus has been influenced strongly by the topography of its uniquely different regions. In commercial cities like Trebizond, Samsunda, Kerasounda and Sinopi upper level education and arts flourished under the protection of a cosmopolitan middle class. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Giresun ( Greek: Κερασούντα, Pharnacia, Choerades) is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. In the inland cities like Argyroupolis and others, the economy was based upon agriculture and mining thus creating an economic and cultural gap between the developed urban ports and the rural centers which laid upon the valleys and plains extending from the base of the Pontic alps. Gümüşhane is a city in northeastern Turkey and the seat of Gümüşhane Province.

Education

The rich cultural activity of Pontic Greeks is witnessed by the number of colleges and churches that existed in the region like the Frontistirion of Trapezeus and Argyroupolis, built in 1682 and 1722 respectively, the 38 different highschools in Sinopi region, the 39 different highschools in Kerasounda region and a plethora of churches and monasteries most notable of which are the St. College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. Giresun ( Greek: Κερασούντα, Pharnacia, Choerades) is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Eugenios and Agia Sophia churches of Trapezeus, the monasteries of St. The Hagia Sophia ( Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία meaning "Holy Wisdom" Turkish: Ayasofya) now the Hagia Sophia Museum, is a former George and St. Ioannes Vazelonos and arguably the most famous and highly regarded of all, the monastery of Panagia Soumela. The Sümela Monastery (Παναγία Σουμελά Sümela Manastırı stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley in the region of Maçka in

Music

Pontian music retains elements of Greek, Persian, and Celtic music. The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years with its beginnings in the Mycenaean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece Celtic music is a term utilised by artists record companies music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of Musical genres that evolved out of the Folk The music is often fast in tempo and can sometimes be high-pitched. It is played primarily to be danced to, with dance steps substantially different from that of Greek and Turkish dancing. [1]

The prime instruments in Pontian musical are the kemenche or lyra which bares resemblance to it's Cretan, Cypriot and Thracian counterparts. A kemenche ( Turkish: kemençe Laz: Ç'ilili(ჭილილი Greek: κεμεντζές is a bottle-shaped 3-stringed type of Rebec or Lyra (ˈlaɪrə Lyre) is one of the 48 Constellations listed by Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Crete ( Greek: Κρήτη transliteration: Krētē, modern transliteration Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the "Thracians" also refers to modern inhabitants of Thrace, regardless of ethnicity Also the davul, a type of drum, the zurna which varied from region to region with the one from Bafra sounding differently due ti it's bigger size, the Violi which was very popular in Bafra region, the Kemane, an instrument close related to the one of Kappadokia and hihly popular in Kerasounta and Kars regions. The drum is a member of the percussion group technically classified as a Membranophone. For other meanings see Zurna (disambiguation For other spellings see Surna (disambiguation The Finally worth mentioning are the Defi and Outi.

Dance

Pontian dance retains aspects of Persian and Greek dance styles. The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years with its beginnings in the Mycenaean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece The dances called Horoi (Greek: Χοροί), singular Horon (Greek: Χορόν) meaning literally "Dance" in both Ancient, Pontic and Modern Greek languages, are circular in nature and each is characterized by distinct short steps. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly A unique aspect of Pontian dance is the tremoulo (Greek: Τρέμουλο), which is a fast shaking of the upper torso by a turning of the back on its axis. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly They share the fact that they are being danced in a line and forming a circle with the rest of Greek dances. Pontian dances also resemble Persian and Middle Eastern dances because they are not led by a single dancer. The most renowned Pontian Dances are Tik, Serra, Maheria or Pyrecheios, Kotsari and Karsilamas. Serra, was a Pontic Greek Dance named after the region of Pontos. The Pyrehios dance ( Pyrrhic dance) (Grkπυρήχειος is described by Xenophon in his work the Anabasis. Kochari (Քոչարի Koçari Κότσαρι ქოჩარი Laz: Koçari Köçəri is a Folk dance from the Kars and Artvin provinces Karşılama (karşılama Greek:Καρσιλαμάς is a Turkish Dance of unsure origins found in the Balkans and Anatolia

Notable Pontic Greeks

See also

• Ömer Asan
• Trabzon
• Ancomah
• Urums
• Hamshenis
• Pontian Greek Genocide

Notes

References

• Asan, Ömer. Pontos kültürü. İstanbul: Belge Yayınları, 1996.
• Halo, Thea. Not Even My Name. Picador. 2000. ISBN 978-0-312-26211-2.
• Hofmann, Tessa, ed. Verfolgung, Vertreibung und Vernichtung der Christen im Osmanischen Reich 1912-1922. Münster: LIT, 2004. ISBN 978-3-8258-7823-8

External links

• Michel Bruneau (ed.), Grecs pontiques: Diaspora, identité, territoires, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Cnrs) Éditions, Paris, 1998 (recension and presentation)
• Omer Asan: Greek-speaking writer from Turkey and a guide to the Pontian culture, Tuesday April 25, 2000 International Herald Tribune
• Nikos Doukas, The Pontian muslims at the target of Turkey
• About Pontic Culture of Anatolia
• The official web site of the Pontian Federation of Greece
• Web site of everything Pontian
• World wide Pontian Forum
• Pontian Federation of Australia
• Pontian Association in Stuttgart, Germany
• Pontian Association in South Russia
• Pontian web site catalogue
• Pontian Association in Frankfurt, Germany / Verein der Griechen aus Pontos in Frankfurt
• Pontian International site
• Internet Radio "Akrites tou Pontou"
• Pontian folk music
• Trebizond Greek: A language without a tongue
• All about Pontic culture
• Website with map showing colonization of the Black Sea by Greek
• The Incredible Odyssey of the Black Sea Greeks
• Greek Penetration of the Black Sea

Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

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