Greek colonies in the land of
Pontos.
The beginning of Pontos history
is dated near 1000 b.C with the descent of Dorians in Greece, Achaoi
were forced to emigrate, and colonise the coasts of Ionia and next the
south coasts of Italy and Sicily and end to the Black Sea, in
geographical place called Pontos.The first name, "inhospitable" Pontos
(very likely for the deep see of Pontos in the south coast, and the
hostile and savage native people), has became quickly into
“hospitable" (Evxinos) Pontos, that is hospitable for the Greeks,
where they colonise the areas of the land of Pontos. The reasons,
which impulse the first Greek colonists in the land of Pontos, where
mostly financial economical and trade issues. From the area and the
local mines, iron, cooper, salt, flax, lumber, grain, wool, wax, honey,
and the most precious metal, gold, ware being brought to the mainland
of Greece. For 3000 years the Greeks in the land of Pontos kept their
Christian Orthodox religion unchangeable and immutable, as well as
their ancient Greek language, in the form of Pontiac dialect. The
specific dialect preserves elements of the ancient (Ionian, coasts of
Turkey in Aegean sea). The Greeks in Pontos created a civilisation
that reached quickly in his highest point, zenith, in trade and
letters-writing despite the difficult circumstances through the years
and time passed. They created schools for their children(1682 the
coaching-tuition school of Trapezounta), from which men of letters and
wisdom, were attend and teach teachers, professors, bankers, doctors
and other scientists were mostly the vocational education and guidance
that Greeks of Pontos had. Hundrents of churches were built and
preserved for many years, like the Holy Church of Blessed Panagia (Virgin
Mary) Soumela. (The naming Soumela was given because of the locationof
the church, which was in the mountain Mela)
Historical Features
Even though that the history of
Greeks in Pontos is lost in the deep years of time, with the
Argonaut’s expedition and the first establishment of Greeks in those
areas after the Trojan War (1100 b.C), we can say that the history of
Greeks in the land of Pontos is clearly revealed with the creation of
Sinopi from Milisious colonists in 785 b.C. Later in time other Greek
colonies were created like Trapezounta (756 b.C), Kerasounta (700 b.C),
Amisos (Samsounta 600 b.C), Kotioron (Orntou), Tripoleos etc. Pontos,
trough out the historical life (1100 b.C - 1922 a.C), a time period of
3000 years, was one of the greatest and major parts of the Greek
nation and Greek history. Through this history, in which the Hellenism
(Greek nation) of the area, in the ancient years, Alexander the Great
years through to the Roman occupation and the Bizantic empire didn't
stop to preserve intact, unchangeable and immutable his national
identity and kept his national belief and morale prosperous and active
with dignity, and his religion, beliefs, and traditions unfaltering
and unfaltering.
Link about
the Pontos
Romeyka
Pontic
music
