Traditional rural Pontic house

A man in traditional clothes from Trabzon, illustration

Pontus is the name which was applied, in ancient times, to extensive tracts of country in the northeast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) bordering on the Euxine (Black Sea), which was often called simply Pontos (the main), by the Greeks, after the colonisation of the Anatolian shores by the Ionian Greeks. The exact signification of this purely territorial name varied greatly at different times. The Greeks used it loosely to denote various parts of the shores of the Euxine, and the term did not get a definite connotation of being a separate state until after the establishment of the kingdom of Pontus, founded beyond the Halys during the troubled period following the death of Alexander the Great, shortly after 302 BC, by Mithradates I Ktistes, son of Mithridates II of Kios (Mysia) a Persian ruler in the service of Antigonus, one of Alexander's successors. The kingdom of Pontus was henceforth ruled by a succession of kings, mostly bearing the same name, till 64 BC. Image File history File linksMetadata Evler2b. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Evler2b. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (516x768, 103 KB) A man in traditional clothes from Trebizond. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (516x768, 103 KB) A man in traditional clothes from Trebizond. ... Traditional Trabzon country house Location of Trabzon Province within Turkey Trabzon, formerly known as Trebizond or Τραπεζούντα (Trapezoúnda; see also List of traditional Greek place names) in Greek, is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey (Lat (DMS) 41° 2 60N Long (DMS) 39° 43 37E). ... Asia Minor lies east of the Bosporus, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. ... Map of the Black Sea. ... Asia Minor lies east of the Bosporus, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. ... Ionia (Greek Ιωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient region of southwestern coastal Anatolia (now in Turkey) on the Aegean Sea. ... In the Aeneid, Halys is a Trojan who defends Aeneas camp from a Rutullian attack. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: Μέγας Αλέξανδρος Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC — June 11, 323 BC), King of Macedon (336–323 BC), is considered one of the most successful military commanders in world history, conquering most of the world known to the ancient Greeks before his death. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - Decades: 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302 BC 301 BC 300 BC 299 BC 298 BC Cassander becomes King of... Mithridates I Ctistes (in Greek Mιθριδατης Kτιστης; reigned 302–266 BC) was the founder (this is the meaning of the word Ctistes) of the kingdom of Pontus in Anatolia. ... Mithridates of Kios (in Greek Mιθριδατης or Mιθραδατης; ruled 337–302 BC) succeeded his father Ariobarzanes II in 337 BC as ruler of the Greek town of Kios in Mysia (today part of Turkey). ... Mysia. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau. ... Antigonus I Cyclops or Monophthalmos (the One-eyed, so called from his having lost an eye) (382 BC - 301 BC) was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC - 60s BC - 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC Years: 69 BC 68 BC 67 BC 66 BC 65 BC 64 BC 63 BC 62 BC 61...

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, 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. Under the last king, Mithradates Eupator, commonly called the Great, 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. 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. 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 (Eregli) and Amisus (Samsun), the ora Pontica. 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. Cappadocia in 188 BC In ancient geography, Cappadocia (Greek: Καππαδοκία; see also List of traditional Greek place names; Turkish Kapadokya) was an extensive inland district of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). ... Cilicia as Roman province, 120 AD In Antiquity, Cilicia (Ki-LIK-ya) was a region, and often a political unit, on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Cyprus. ... Mithridates VI of Pontus, (132 BC- 63 BC), called Eupator Dionysius, was the king of Pontus in Asia Minor and one of Romes most formidable and successful enemies. ... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... In ancient geography, Colchis (sometimes spelled also as Kolchis) (Greek: Κολχίς, kŏl´kĬs; Georgian: კოლხეთი, Kolkheti) was a nearly triangular district in Caucasus. ... Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia and Pontus, and separated from Phrygia (later, Galatia) by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus. ... Cilicia as Roman province, 120 AD In Antiquity, Cilicia (Ki-LIK-ya) was a region, and often a political unit, on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Cyprus. ... Marble bust of Pompey the Great Pompey or Pompey the Great (Classical Latin: CN·POMPEIVS·CN·F·SEX·N·MAGNVS¹, Gnaeus or Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus) (September 29, 106 BC – September 29, 48 BC), was a distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman republic. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC - 60s BC - 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC Years: 69 BC 68 BC 67 BC 66 BC 65 BC 64 BC 63 BC 62 BC 61... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Heraclea Pontica (mod. ... Karadeniz Eregli (Ereğli) is a city in Zonguldak, Turkey. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ...

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: Emperor Diocletian. ... Events Roman Empire Diocletian beseiges Achilleus in Egypt, capturing him. ...

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, Polemonium, Cerasus and Trapezus with Neocaesarea as capital
4. Armenia Minor, five cities, with Sebasteia as capital.

This rearrangement gave place in turn to the Byzantine system of military districts (themes). Constantine. ... Sinope was an ancient city on the Black Sea, in the region of Galatia, modern-day Sinop, Turkey. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Zela is a titular see of Asia Minor, suffragan of Amasea in the Helenopontus. ... Ottoman houses and a pontic tomb in Amasya Amasya (formerly Amaseia or Amasia from Greek: Αμάσεια) is a town in northern Turkey, the capital of Amasya Province with approximately 80,000 inhabitants. ... Niksar, most famous for its waters, is one of the major suburbs of Tokat Province, in central-eastern Turkey. ... Sivas is the provincial capital of Sivas Province in Turkey. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... The themata in 950. ...

Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern history

Pontus continued to be an autonomous state under the Imperial rule of Constantinople through most of the history of the Byzantine Empire. With the eclipse and fall of the Empire in the East, the name Pontus was preserved as a state within the Ottoman Empire. Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Söğüt (1299-1326), Bursa (1326-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), İstanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanl...

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. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The Greek parliament has declared 19th May as a memory date for the Pontian Greek Genocide. The Young Turks (Turkish Jöntürk (singular), Jöntürkler (plural), from French Jeunes Turcs) were a Turkish patriotic constitutionalist society, officially known as the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) (İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti in Turkish) — whose leaders led a rebellion against Sultan Abdul Hamid II (who was... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Pontus was not recognised as autonomous. 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 exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey required approximately 1.5 million Greeks living in Turkey to resettle in Greece, and approximately 500,000 Turks living in Greece to resettle in Turkey. Among the former were the remaining 300,000 Pontic Greeks of Muslim faith, of an original population of more than 700,000. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Conference of Lausanne. ... Cartoon The 1923 Exchange of Populations between Greece and Turkey refers to the first large scale population exchange, or agreed mutual expulsion in the 20th century. ... Traditional rural Pontic house The Pontic Greeks, Pontians, or Black Sea Greeks (Greek Πόντιοι, Ποντιακοί) are Greeks from the shores of the Black Sea, the Pontus. ...

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

"As from the 1st 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. 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 Georgia and Russia. The majority of the Greek diaspora in the countries of the former USSR descends from these Pontic Greeks. The Entholinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map The Caucasus, a region bordering Asia Minor, is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. ... Greek Diaspora is the term that refers to the Greek communities that have formed outside the traditional homelands of the Greek people. ...

Source

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

Footnotes

1. ^ The Blight of Asia, by G. Horton full E-text available
2. ^ The Hellenic Genocide Quotes from historical documents
3. ^ Home page of Pontus and Asia Minor Genocide The Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

See also

• Pontic language
• Hayastan (Greater Armenia)
• Cilicia (Lesser Armenia)
• Western Armenia (Ottoman Armenia)
• Kurdistan
• Lazistan
• Cheveneburi
• Ajarians
• Greek Muslims
• Amazons (mythological women warriors)

Pontic Greek is a Greek language which was originally spoken on the shores of the Black Sea (Pontus). Pontics linguistic lineage stems from Attic Greek, and contains influences from Byzantine Greek, Turkish influence and some Persian and Caucasian borrowings. ... Cilicia as Roman province, 120 AD In Antiquity, Cilicia (Ki-LIK-ya) was a region, and often a political unit, on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Cyprus. ... Western Armenia or Ottoman Armenia was the Armenian part of the Ottoman Empire. ... Kurdistan (literally meaning the land of Kurds)[1] is the name of a geographic region and a cultural region in Middle East inhabited predominantly by Kurds. ... Flag of Lazistan Lazistan (Lazona in Laz, Lazeti or Chaneti in Georgian) was the Ottoman administrative name for the sanjak comprising the Laz or Lazuri speaking population on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea. ... Cheveneburi means ours an ethnic identity for Georgian immigrants who came from Acharia in 1877 after the Ottoman-Russo wars. ... Official language Georgian Capital Batumi ISO code GE.AJ Head of the Government Levan Varshalomidze Area  - Total  - % water 2,900 km² n/a Population  - Total (1989)  - Density 392,432 135. ... The term refers to a religious minority in western Thrace, in north-east Greece. ... In Greek mythology, the , Amazons were either an ancient legendary nation of female warriors or a land dominated by women at the outer edges of their known world. ...

Roman Imperial Provinces, AD 120
Achaea | Aegyptus | Africa | Alpes Cottiae | Alpes Maritimae | Alpes Poenninae | Arabia Petraea | Armenia Inferior | Asia | Assyria | Bithynia | Britannia | Cappadocia | Cilicia | Commagene | Corsica et Sardinia | Creta et Cyrenaica | Cyprus | Dacia | Dalmatia | Epirus | Galatia | Gallia Aquitania | Gallia Belgica | Gallia Lugdunensis | Gallia Narbonensis | Germania Inferior | Germania Superior | Hispania Baetica | Hispania Lusitania | Hispania Tarraconensis | Italia | Iudaea | Lycaonia | Lycia | Macedonia | Mauretania Caesariensis | Mauretania Tingitana | Moesia | Noricum | Numidia | Osroene | Pannonia | Pamphylia | Pisidia | Pontus | Raetia | Sicilia | Sophene | Syria | Thracia
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