Pontic Greeks
Black Sea diaspora
Pontic Greeks are Greeks whose ancestors lived along the southern coast of the Black Sea, in the Pontus region of what is now northeastern Turkey.
They developed a distinct dialect and cultural traditions over millennia before mass deportations and population exchanges in the early twentieth century scattered them to Greece, Russia, and elsewhere.
My grandmother was Pontic Greek; she still made traditional dishes from the old country.
Black Sea coastal kingdom
- CaucasusMountain range, Black to Caspian
- AnatoliaWestern Asian peninsula
- Black SeaLandlocked sea near Caucasus
- CrimeaBlack Sea peninsula
Mariupol · Constantinople · Thessaloniki · homeland · mountains · coast
Organized reciprocal mass resettlement
- expulsionForced permanent removal
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
- displacementRemoval from usual location
emigration · exodus · resettlement · repatriation · Soviet Union · Georgia · Russia · Ukraine
Faith based on Jesus
- ByzantinesConstantinople-based imperial subjects
- HellenismGreek cultural influence
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ancestryFamily line of descent
ethnicity · traditions · customs · endogamy · patriotism · nationalism · identity · resilience
Greek stringed instrument
- lamentsExpresses grief vocally
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
- circularForming a closed curve
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
melody · improvisation · weddings · festivals
Common masculine name
- ArgonautsLegendary Greek seafaring heroes
- MedeaMythical infanticidal sorceress
- Golden FleeceMythic ram's pelt
- AmazonsLegendary all-woman fighters
legends · myths · folktales · storytelling · superstitions · rituals · narratives · oral tradition
Pontus
Black Sea coastal kingdom
- CaucasusMountain range, Black to Caspian
- AnatoliaWestern Asian peninsula
- Black SeaLandlocked sea near Caucasus
Crimea · Mariupol · Constantinople · Thessaloniki · homeland · mountains · coast
population exchange
Organized reciprocal mass resettlement
- expulsionForced permanent removal
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
displacement · emigration · exodus · resettlement · repatriation · Soviet Union · Georgia · Russia · Ukraine · Germany
Christianity
Faith based on Jesus
- ByzantinesConstantinople-based imperial subjects
- HellenismGreek cultural influence
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
ancestry · ethnicity · traditions · customs · endogamy · patriotism · nationalism · identity · resilience · continuity
lyra
Greek stringed instrument
vibrato · melody · improvisation · weddings · festivals
Jason
Common masculine name
- ArgonautsLegendary Greek seafaring heroes
- MedeaMythical infanticidal sorceress
- Golden FleeceMythic ram's pelt
Amazons · legends · myths · folktales · storytelling · superstitions · rituals · narratives · oral tradition · epic
- Greek cultureHellenism, Parthenon, Acropolis, Zeus, Olympics
- ethnic groupsJews, Arabs, Chinese, Irish, Russians
- Greek Diasporaimmigrant communities, ethnic enclaves, immigrants, emigrants, expatriates
- Ancient Black Sea PeoplesScythians, Thracians, Bosporan Kingdom
- Caucasus PeoplesArmenians, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Georgians
- PontusPontus, Mithridates VI, Mithridates, Black Sea