Pontic Greeks

Pontic Greeks
Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός, Ρωμαιοί

File:Kukul.jpg
Regions with significant populations
Greece, Russia, Ukraine
Languages
Pontic Greek, Standard Demotic Greek
Religion
Greek Orthodox
Related ethnic groups
rest of the Greeks

The term Pontic Greeks, Pontian Greeks, Pontians or Greeks of Pontus (Greek: Πόντιοι, Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός or Έλληνες του Πόντου, Turkish: Pontus Rumları) can refer to Greeks specifically from the area of Pontus in the region of the former Empire of Trebizond on the Black Sea coast of Eastern Turkey, or in other cases more generally all Greeks from the shores of the Black Sea or the Pontus. Greeks from Trabzon traditionally speak Pontic Greek. The terms Pontic and Pontian can be used interchangeably.

History

The history of the Pontian Greek people begins as a myth. The Black Sea area generally, and the region around Trabzon specifically, are where Jason and the Argonauts sailed to find the Golden Fleece. This myth was formally documented by Apollonius of Rhodes in his work the Argonautica. Modern historians however, see this epic also as a historical tool. They date the exhibition of the Argo around 1200B.C. based on the description given by Apollonios.

The first recorded Greek colony, established on the northern shores of ancient Anatolia, was Sinop circa 800B.C. The settlers of Sinop were merchants from the Ionian Greek city state of Miletus. After the colonization of the shores of the Black Sea the name changed to Efxinos (hospitable) Sea. In time, other Greeks followed their path and, as numbers grew, more Greek colonies were established along the Black Sea coastline of what is now Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

The Pontus region.

The region of Trapezus, now Trabzon, was also mentioned by Xenophon (430 - 355 BC) Anabasis, when his 10,000 soldiers had reached the Pontic Euxine Sea and cried out 'Thalassa! Thalassa!' - "The sea! The sea!", the local people understood them. They were Hellenes as well and, according to Xenophon, they had been there for over 300 years. Over thousands of years the Trapezus colony, later called the Pontos region, flourished, contributing to the development of a rich civilization with a strong Hellenic basis. This is verified by a various ancient Greek and Roman historians. For example, many accounts exist of the Mithridatic wars and the reign of Mythridates the Ephpator .With the passage of time and the establishment of the Eastern Roman empire Pontos was placed under its control. Pontos remained isolated from the 'modern' Greek-speaking world afterward. This isolation however helped maintain the Pontic language with its strong roots to the ancient Greeks. For many years later they lived under Ottoman rule but maintained a strong sense of Hellenism and Greek Orthodoxy.

Throughout its long history Pontos was also inhabited and invaded by the Persians, Romans, Alexander the Great, Germany, Russia and finally, the Turks. The land also had its share of royal rulers such as the Komnenos family, which made Trabzond (Trapezounda) Empire of Trebizond capital from 1204 to 1461.

Like other Christians in Asia Minor, the Armenians and Assyrians for example, the Pontic Greeks faced persecution and suffered during ethnic cleansing at the beginning of the 20th century (Hofmann 2004).

The Armenian genocide in Turkey during World War I is widely known. Almost unknown, however, is the annihilation of the Pontic Greeks, who had lived for 3000 years in the Pontic Mountains near the Black Sea, by Kemal Ataturk's military forces after the war. In 1921, one survivor, ten-year-old Sano Halo (the author's mother), was forced with her entire village on a nearly year-long death march to Syria. Separated from her family, she lost even her name when she was sold by her surrogate family to a man three times her age, whom she married; later, they emigrated to New York City and raised ten children.

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. In his book 'Black Sea', author Neal Ascherson writes:

The Turkish guide-books on sale in Turkey today offer this account of the 1923 catastrophe: 'After the proclamation of the Republic (Turkish), the Greeks who lived in the region returned to their own country. Their own country? Returned? Pontians had lived in that area for over 3,000 years. The Pontian dialect was not understandable to 20th century Athenians.

Population

Nowadays, the actual number of Pontic Greeks is unknown. The largest communities of Pontic Greek (or people of Pontic Greek descent) around the world are (according to Pontian Diaspora 2000):

• more than 1 million in Greece
• more than 500,000 in Russia and in other countries of the former Soviet Union
• 120,000 in the Ukraine
• 100,000 in Germany
• 80,000 in the United States of America in the following cities:
  • Norwalk, Connecticut
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Astoria, Queens, New York
  • Canton, Ohio
• 56,000 in Australia
• 50,000 in Georgia ("Rumka") (a number of whom speak Turkish)
• 25,000 in Kazakhstan
• 20,000 in Canada, most notably in:
  • Toronto, Ontario
• 11,000 in Uzbekistan
• 5,000 in Syria
• 2,000 in Armenia
• unknown number in Cyprus

For the Greek-speaking Muslim Pontian community in Turkey, see Pontic Greek Muslims.

Settlements

Some of the settlements historically inhabited by Pontic Greeks include:

• In Crimea and the northern Azov Sea:

Chersonesos, Eupatoria

(Kerkinitida), Panticapaeum, Sudak (Soughdaia), Tanais, Feodosiya.

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

Batumi (Batis), Tmutarakan, Anapa (Gorgippa), Heraclea Pontica, Phanagoria, Poti (Phasis), Pitsunda, Sukhumi (Sebastopolis,Dioscurias).

• In Anatolia:

Kars, Balya (Kioumush Maten]), Sivas (Sevasteia), Çorum (Tsoroum), Bayburt (Baibourt), Adapazarı (Ata Pazar).

• • On the northern (Black Sea) coast of Anatolia:

Amasya (Amasia), Aphene, Giresun (Kerasounta), Kissa, Kromna, Samsun (Amisos), Sinop (Sinope), Themiscyra, Trabzon (Trapezounta), Bafra, Gümüşhane (Argyroupolis), Şiran (Xeroiana, Sheroina), Of (Ofis), Dumanlı (Santa), Tonya, Maçka (Matsouka), Konaklar (Galiana), Sürmene (Sourmena), Olucak (Imera), Rize (Rizounta), Mouzena, Kotoiora, Yazlık (Livera), Akçaabat (Platana), Kelkit, Şebinkarahisar (Nikopolis), Kakatsis (Merzifounta), Merzifon, Tokat, Ünye (Oinoe), Niksar (Neokaisareia), Fatsa, Tirebolu (Tripoli), Terme (Thermi), Gümüşhacıköy (Hatzi-koi), Komana, Hopa, Pazar (Athina), Koyulhisar (Koloneia), Yomra (Gemoura), Akdağmadeni (Ak-Dag Maten).

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

Antiphilos, Sozopol (Apollonia), Germonakris, Nesebar (Mesembria), Nikonis, Varna (Odessos), Olbia, Tira.

Kingdoms either established or ruled by Pontic Greeks, or heavily influenced by Pontic Greek culture, include Pontus, Bithynia, and the Bosporan kingdom.

Culture

Traditional rural Pontic house

The culture of Pontos has been influenced by the topography of the different regions of Pontos. The cities located in the North, like Trabzon, Sinope were, from ancient times, trading centers. They retain this title till today. In these cities upper level education flurished. The markets provided the majority of the Northern cities economy.

In the inland cities like Tribol, Gumushane and others, the economy was based upon agriculture and mining. Trade took place here too, but to a lesser extent. The topography of the land dictated this dicotomy of substinance. The northern cities all developed as rich urban ports due to the accesibility of the Efxine. The southern cities developed as rural centers, due the valleys and plains extending from the base of the Pontic alps. The following are some cultural characteristics of the Pontian Greek people.

The Pontian Greek people value and revere education. This cultural aspect is witnessed by the number of colleges that existed in the region. In cities both rural and urban alike, highschools and colleges were widespread. Examples of such colleges include;

• the Frontistirion of Trapezeus built in 1682 [1]
• the Frontistirion of Argyroupolis built in 1722[2]
• 38 different highschools in Synope[3]
• 39 different highschools in Kerasous [4]

The Pontian Greek people value and revere religion. The Pontian Greeks built many churches and monasteries such as;

• St.Eugenios of Trapezeus [5]
• The monastery of St. George [6]
• The monastery of St. Ioannes Vazelonos [7]
• The church of Agia Sophia of Trapezeus, see Hagia Sophia, Trabzon. [8]
• Arguably, one of the greatest monasteries built in Pontos is that of Panagia Soumela, see Sumela Monastery.

Music

Pontian music retains elements of Greek, Persian, and Celtic music. The music is often fast in tempo and can sometimes be high-pitched. Pontian music is played primarily to be danced to, with dance steps substantially different from that of Greek and Turkish dancing.

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Instruments

The following is a list of Pontian musical instruments.

• kemenche, kementze or lyra (Grk. Λύρα)

The kemenche or kementze is similar to its Cretan, Cypriot and Thracian counterparts. All three can be regarded as the forefather of the violin. The kemenche is played all over the world by people of Pontian descent.

See the following;

• • Music of Cyprus
  • Music of Thrace
  • Music of Crete
  • Violin

• Dankiyo

The dankiyo is very similar to the bagpipe, and almost identical to the gaida

• davul

The davul is a type of drum.

• zurna

Dance

Pontian dance retains the aspects of Persian and Greek dance styles. The dances called Horoi (Grk. Χοροί), singular Horon (Grk. Χορόν), are circular in nature and are each characterized by distinct short steps. A unique aspect of Pontian dance is the tremoulo (Grk. Τρέμουλο), which a fast shacking of the upper torso by a turning of the back on its axis. Pontian dances are similar to Greek dances in being danced in a line and forming a circle. Many Pontian dances are almost identical in steps to Greek dances. Pontian dances also resemble Persian and middle eastern dances in that they are not led. That is there is not one single leader in the dance formation. This is different from Greek dances but is a widespread aspect of Persian and middle eastern dances. The following is a list of Pontian Dances

• Omal -(Grk.ομάλ)-meaning calm
• Tik-(Grk.τικ)
  • Argon-(Grk.αργόν)-meaning slow
  • Tromakton-(Grk.τρομαχτόν)-meaning fiercely
  • So gonaton-(Grk.σο γόνατο)-meaning on the knee
  • Langefton-(Grk.λανγκευτόν)-meaning jumping or hopping
  • Karslidikon-(Grk.καρσλίδικον)-Meaning from Kars
  • Diplon-(Grk.διπλόν)-Meaning douple
• Dipat or Giavaston-(Grk.διπάτ)-Meaning double step
• Ters (from Kioumoush Maten)-(Grk.Tερς)-Meaning wrong or incorrectly
• Ters (from Ak Dag Maten)-(Grk.Tερς)-Meaning wrong or incorrectly
• Tas-(Grk.τας)
• Trigona (from Trapezounta)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
• Trigona (from Matsouka)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
• Trigona (from Kerasounda)-(Grk.τριγόνα)
• Seranitsa (from Trapezounta)-(Grk.σερανίτσα)
• Seranitsa (Sheriana)-(Grk.σερανίτσα)
• Serra-(Grk.σέρρα)-Named after the region Serra
• Masher or Maheria(Grk.Μαχαίρια)or Pyrecheios(Grk.πυρήχειος)(Turkish Bıçak Oyunu)- ancient Greek dance described by the ancient historian Xenophon meaning sound of fire
• Kots-(Grk.κοτς)-Meaning Heel dance
• Kotsari-(Grk.κότσαρι)- Meaning Heel dance
• Almatsouk-(Grk.αλματσούκ)
• Titara (Argyropoli)-(Grk.τίταρα)
• Titara (Kars)-(Grk.τίταρα)
• Giurvalandun-(Grk.γιουρβαλαντούν)
• Samson-(Grk.σαμσόν)-From Sinop
• Etere-(Grk.έτερε)
• Karsilamas-(Grk.καρσιλαμάς)-From Kars
• Pipilomatena-(Grk.πιπιλομάτενα)- Meaning soft eyes
• Tsurtuguzus-(Grk.τσουρτούγουζους)
• Momogera-(Grk.μομόγερα)-Meaning immature old men
• Atsiapat-(Grk.ατσιαπάτ)
• Gemura-(Grk.γέμουρα)-Meaning from Gemura
• Diplon Omal-(Grk.διπλόν ομάλ)-Meaning double calm
• Kalon Korits-(Grk.καλόν κορίτσ)-Meaning good girl
• Kymishanalidikon-(Grk.κιμισχαναλίδικον)-Meaning from Gumushane
• Dolme-(Grk.ντολμέ)
• Utsai-(Grk.ούτσαϊ)
• Sarikuz-(Grk.σαρικουζ)
• Siton-(Grk.σιτόν)
• Tamsara-(Grk.τάμσαρα)
• Tyrfon-(Grk.τυρφόν)
• Fona-(Grk.φόνα)
• Hala-Hala-(Grk.χάλα-χάλα)
• Halai-(Grk.χαλάϊ)

Notable Pontian Greeks

• Patriarch Maximus V of Constantinople
• Strabo
• Diogenes
• Dimitris Psathas
• Bessarion
• Evagrius Ponticus
• Fyodor Yurchikhin
• Mithridates the VI of Pontus

See also

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

Trivia

In his 1998 movie From the Edge of the City, with dialogues in Greek, Pontic Greek and Russian, the film director Constantinos Giannaris, describes the life of a young "Russian Pontic" (Ρωσσοπόντιοι) from Kazakhstan in the Athens prostitution underworld. Some film critics compared this movie to My Own Private Idaho.

In the films The Addams Family Gomez dances a traditional Pontic Greek dance called "Mashera" involving knives.

Sources

• Asan, Ömer. Pontos kültürü. İstanbul: Belge Yayınları, 1996.
• Halo, Thea. Not Even My Name. Picador. 2000. ISBN-10: 0312262116.
• Hofmann, Tessa, ed. Verfolgung, Vertreibung und Vernichtung der Christen im Osmanischen Reich 1912-1922. Münster: LIT, 2004. ISBN 3-8258-7823-6

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