Ancient Region of Anatolia Pontus (Πόντος)
Location	North eastern Anatolia
State existed:	302-64 BC
Nation	Leucosyri
Historical capitals	Amasya
Famous rulers	Mithradates Eupator
Roman province	Pontus

Pontus (Greek: Πόντος) is a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea. Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black Amasya (Ἀμάσεια the Amaseia of antiquity or Αμάσεια Amáseia) is the administrative district of Amasya Province in northern Turkey See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates In Ancient Rome, a province (Latin provincia, pl provinciae) was the basic and until the Tetrarchy (circa Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Pontos (the main) following the exploration and the colonization of the Anatolian and other Black Sea cities by the Ionian Greeks beginning about the end of the Greek Dark Ages. Geography Physical Ionia was of small extent not exceeding 90 geographical miles in length from north to south with a breadth varying from 40 to 55 miles but to this The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions The Dark Ages (ca 1150 BC–800 BC refers to Greek history from the presumed Dorian invasion and end of the Mycenaean civilization in the 11th century The name eventually became more specific to the area of northeast Anatolia in late classical times. Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black In modern Greek it can refer to either. Today it is located in Turkey. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches

Pontus is the most northeasterly district of Asia Minor, along the southern coast of the Euxine, east of the river Halys, having originally no specific name, was spoken of as the country en Pontôi, “on the Pontus” (Euxinus), and hence acquired the name of Pontus, which is first found in Xenophon's Anabasis. Xenophon (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek "Ξενοφών" "Ξενοφώντας" ca

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. A few larger rivers, those cutting back through the Pontic Mountains (Doğu Karadeniz Dağları), have tributaries that flow in broad, elevated basins. The Pontic Mountains ( Turkish Doğu Karadeniz Dağları) are a range of mountains in northern Turkey, whose eastern end extends into southeastern Access inland from the coast is limited to a few narrow valleys because mountain ridges, with elevations of 1,525 to 1,800 m in the west and 3,000 to 4,000 m in the east in Kaçkar Mountains, form an almost unbroken wall separating the coast from the interior. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Kaçkar mountains, Kaçkar Dağları or simply Kaçkar(s are a Mountain range rising above along the Black Sea coast in Eastern Turkey The higher slopes facing southwest tend to be densely wet. Because of these natural conditions, the Black Sea coast historically has been isolated from the Anatolian interior proper.

Pontus was a mountainous country—wild and barren in the east, where the great chains approach the Euxine; but in the west watered by the great rivers Halys and Iris, and their tributaries, the valleys of which, [p. The Yeşil River (Yeşilırmak "Green River" Ίρις, Iris) is a river in northern Turkey. 1301] as well as the land along the coast, are extremely fertile. The eastern part was rich in minerals, and contained the celebrated iron mines of the Chalybes. The Chalybes (Χάλυβες Χάλυβοι also called Khalib ( Georgian: ყალიბები Khalibebi (plural ყალიბი Khalibi (singular were a tribe

The area is known for its fertility. Cherries were supposed to have bought from Pontus to Europe in 72 BC. This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. ^[1]

History

The inhabitants of Pontus were called generically Leucosyri (q. v. ). ^[2].

Kingdom of Pontus

The term did get a definite connotation of being a separate state after the establishment of "The kingdom of Pontus", beyond the Halys River (Kızıl river). The Persian dynasty which was to found this kingdom had during the fourth century B. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia C. ruled the Greek city of Cius (or Kios) in Mysia, with its first known member being Ariobarzanes I of Cius and the last ruler based in the city being Mithridates II of Cius. Cius-Kios ( Greek: Kίος, or Kείος, also Transliterated as Kios and Keios, and later Prusa, Prusias Cius-Kios ( Greek: Kίος, or Kείος, also Transliterated as Kios and Keios, and later Prusa, Prusias Mysia (Μυσία was a region in the northwest of ancient Asia Minor or Anatolia (part of modern Turkey) 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 Mithridates of Cius (in Greek Mιθριδάτης or Mιθραδάτης lived c Mithridates II's son, also called Mithridates, would become Mithradates I Ktistes of Pontus ("Ktistes" meaning "The Founder"). Mithridates I Ctistes (in Greek Mιθριδάτης Kτίστης; reigned 302 BC - 266 BC was the founder (this is the meaning of the word Ctistes

During the troubled period following the death of Alexander the Great, Mithradates Ktistes was for a time in the service of Antigonus, one of Alexander's successors, and successfully maneuvering in this unsettled time managed, shortly after 302 BC, to create the Kingdom of Pontus which would be ruled by his descendants mostly bearing the same name, till 64 BC. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Antigonus I Monophthalmus ("the One-eyed" (382 BC - 301 BC son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian nobleman general and Satrap Events By place Asia Minor Following their agreement to work together to defeat Antigonus, Seleucus invades Asia Minor Year 64 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Servilius Rullus, Roman Tribune Thus, this Persian dynasty managed to survive and prosper in the Hellenistic world while the main Persian Empire had fallen. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia

As the greater part of this kingdom lay within the immense region of Cappadocia, which in early ages extended from the borders of Cilicia to the Euxine (Black Sea), the kingdom as a whole was at first called "Cappadocia towards the Pontus", but afterwards simply "Pontus," the name Cappadocia being henceforth restricted to the southern half of the region previously included under that title. Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: Geography Cilicia extended along the Aegean coast east from Pamphylia, to Mount Amanus ( Gavurdağı Mount) which separated it from Syria The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey

This kingdom reached its greatest height under Mithridates VI or Mithradates Eupator, commonly called the Great, who for many years carried on war with the Romans. See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates Under him, the realm of Pontus included not only Pontic Cappadocia but also the seaboard from the Bithynian frontier to Colchis, part of inland Paphlagonia, and Lesser Armenia. Description Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as Sea of Marmara) Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Cius In ancient Geography, Colchis or Kolchis ( Georgian and Laz: კოლხეთი k'olxeti; Greek:, Kolchís Geography The greater part of Paphlagonia is a rugged mountainous country but it contains fertile valleys and produces a great abundance of hazelnuts and fruit – particularly plums Lesser Armenia (also known as Armenia Minor and Armenia Inferior, "Փոքր Հայք" "Pok'r Hayq" in Armenian refers to the Armenian populated

Roman province

With the subjection of this kingdom by Pompey in 64 BC, in which little changed in the structuring of life, neither for the oligarchies that controlled the cities nor for the common people in city or hinterland, the meaning of the name Pontus underwent a change. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation Year 64 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Servilius Rullus, Roman Tribune Part of the kingdom was now annexed to the Roman Empire, being united with Bithynia in a double province called Pontus and Bithynia: this part included only the seaboard between Heraclea (Ereğli) and Amisus (Samsun), the ora Pontica. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Heraclea Pontica ( Greek: Ηράκλεια Ποντική modern day Karadeniz Ereğli, in the Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Karadeniz Ereğli is a city and district in Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Sea shore at the mouth of the Kılıçsu River. Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black

Hereafter the simple name Pontus without qualification was regularly employed to denote the half of this dual province, especially by Romans and people speaking from the Roman point of view; it is so used almost always in the New Testament.

In A. D. 62 the country was constituted by Nero a Roman province. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called It was divided into the three districts of Pontus Galatĭcus in the west, bordering on Galatia; P. Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Polemoniācus in the centre, so called from its capital Polemonium; and P. This article is about the plant species for the ancient city named Polemonium see Fatsa. Cappadocius in the east, bordering on Cappadocia (Armenia Minor). Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian:

With the reorganization of the provincial system under Diocletian (about AD 295), the Pontic districts were divided up between four provinces of the Dioecesis Pontica:

1. Paphlagonia, to which was attached most of the old province Pontus
2. Diospontus, re-named Helenopontus by Constantine, containing the rest of the province Pontus and the adjoining district, eight cities in all (including Sinope, Amisus and Zela) with Amasia as capital
3. Pontus Polemoniacus, containing Comana, Argyroupolis, Polemonium, Cerasus and Trapezus with Neocaesarea as capital
4. Armenia Minor, five cities, with Sebasteia as capital. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Events By Place Asia Tuoba Yi Tuo becomes a chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba tribe Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Sinop ( Greek: Σινώπη /Sinope is a city with a population of 47000 on İnce Burun ( İnceburun, Cape Ince) by its Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black Zile, also known as Zela, is a City and a district of Tokat Province, Turkey. Amasya (Ἀμάσεια the Amaseia of antiquity or Αμάσεια Amáseia) is the administrative district of Amasya Province in northern Turkey 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 Sivas (the late-Classical and Medieval Sebastia, sometimes spelt Sebastea or Sebasteia, Greek: Σεβάστεια, Armenian

This rearrangement gave place in turn to the Byzantine system of military districts (themes).

Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire

Pontus continued to be an autonomous state under the Imperial rule of Constantinople through most of the history of the Byzantine Empire. Its fall gave rise to the Empire of Trebizond, which existed in the area from 1204 to 15 August 1461. 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 Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed After that, the name Pontus was preserved as a state within the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish

Pontus in Turkey

The Flag of "Pontic Republic", at the period of effort of autonomy this region from the Turkish state.

A man in traditional clothes from Trabzon, illustration. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of

In the 20th century, the situation of Christian minorities in Pontus worsened with the increasing influence of the Young Turks, culminating in mass killings and deportations. The Young Turks ( Turkish: Jön Türkler (plural from French: Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favoring reforming the During World War I and its aftermath (1914-1923 the ^[3][4] The Greek parliament has declared 19th May as a memory date for the Pontic Greek Genocide. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία During World War I and its aftermath (1914-1923 the The choice by Greece of 19 May as the date of commemoration, a national holiday in Turkey as the anniversary of 19 May 1919 when Mustafa Kemal Pasha set foot in Samsun to initiate the Turkish War of Independence, is viewed in Turkey as futile provocation by some Greek politicians. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (19 May 1881 &ndash 10 November 1938 was an army officer revolutionary Statesman Samsun ( Greek: Σαμψούντα, Samsounta, Amisos) is a city in northern Turkey, on the coast of the Black The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions ^[5][6]

After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Pontus was not recognised as autonomous. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches In 1921, an independent Pontic state was proposed, but never realized. Under the Treaty of Lausanne, the borders of Turkey were renegotiated and in 1923, the population exchange between Greece and Turkey required approximately 1. The Treaty of Lausanne ( July 24, 1923) was a Peace treaty signed in Lausanne that settled the Anatolian part of the Partitioning The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey is the first large-scale population exchange, or agreed mutual expulsion in the 20th century 5 million Greeks living in Turkey to resettle in Greece, and approximately 600,000 Turks living in Greece to resettle in Turkey. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Article 1 of the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations, dated 30 January 1923, between the governments of Greece and Turkey reads as follows:

“As from 1 May 1923, there shall take place a compulsory exchange of Turkish nationals of the Greek Orthodox religion established in Turkish territory, and of Greek nationals of the Muslim religion established in Greek territory. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. These persons shall not return to live in Turkey or Greece respectively without the authorization of the Turkish Government or of the Greek Government respectively. ”

A number of Pontic Greeks moved from Turkey to countries in the Caucasus region, mainly Armenia, Georgia and Russia. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani 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 The majority of the Greek diaspora in the countries of the former USSR descends from these Pontic Greeks. The Greek diaspora (ελληνική διασπορά elliniki diaspora) is a term used to refer to the communities of Greek people living outside of the traditional

See also

• Pontic language
• Pontic Greeks
• Lazistan
• Laz people
• Cheveneburi
• Ajarians
• Amazons (mythological women warriors)
• Pontic Greek Genocide
• The Greek Genocide 1914-23

Notes and References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. 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 The term Pontic Greeks, Pontian Greeks, Pontians or Greeks of Pontus (Πόντιοι Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός or gr Έλληνες Lazistan ( Lazona - ლაზონა in Laz, ლაზეთი - lazeti or ჭანეთი - č’aneti in Georgian) was the The Laz ( Lazi (ლაზი or Lazepe (ლაზეფე in Laz, Lazlar in Turkish, Lazi (ლაზი or Chveneburi (ჩვენებური čveneburi) meaning "of us" in Georgian, is an Autonym of Muslim immigrants of Georgian The Adjarians (Ajarians Ajars Adjars Adzhars აჭარლები Ačarlebi) are an ethnographic group of Georgians that mostly live in Adjara The Amazons (in Greek, grc Ἀμαζόνες are a nation of all-female warriors in Classical and Greek mythology, who were possibly historical During World War I and its aftermath (1914-1923 the The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

• Ramsay MacMullen, 2000. Romanization in the Time of Augustus (Yale University Press)