Pontic greeks
Origins
The Pontic Greeks are a Greek ethnic group who traditionally lived in the region of Pontus, on the shores of the Black Sea and in the Pontic Mountains of northeastern Anatolia. Many later migrated to other parts of Eastern Anatolia, to the former Russian province of Kars Oblast in the Transcaucasus, and to Georgia in various waves from the Ottoman conquest to the early 20th century.
History
The history of the Pontic Greeks starts with the colonization of the southern shores of the Black Sea by Greeks from the 8th century BC onwards. The settlers were from different regions of Greece, including the city-states of Miletus, Athens, and Sparta. The Pontic Greeks had a continuous presence in the region for almost 3,000 years, until 1922 when they were ethnically cleansed by Turkey.
Language
The Pontic Greeks speak a dialect, known as Pontic Greek, which is a form of the Greek language that evolved after the colonization of the Black Sea region by Greeks. It is significantly different from the standard Modern Greek.
Culture
The culture of the Pontic Greeks has been greatly influenced by their geographical location. Their dances and music have a distinct style, with the Pontic lyra being the dominant instrument. The Pontic Greeks also have a rich tradition of oral literature, including folk tales, myths, and epic poetry.
Religion
The Pontic Greeks are predominantly Orthodox Christians, and belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until 1922, when they were included in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Diaspora
The Pontic Greek diaspora is spread throughout Greece and countries such as the United States, Australia, Germany, and Russia. They maintain strong cultural and religious ties to their ancestral homeland.
Genocide
The Pontic Greek Genocide is the term used to describe the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Christian Pontic Greek population from its historic homeland in Asia Minor during World War I and its aftermath (1914–1923). It was carried out by the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish National Movement, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of Pontic Greeks.