Greeks in Syria
Encyclopedia
The Greek presence in Syria is dated to the 7th century BCE and became more prominent during the Hellenistic era and when the Seleucid Empire was centered there. Today there is a Greek community of about 1,500 in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

 most of whom have Syrian nationality and live mainly in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...

, the country's main trading and financial center and Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...

, the capital.

History

Greek presence is attested from early on and in fact the name of Syria itself is of Greek provenance from the Greek word for the Assyrians. However it was during the Hellenist times that it was most prominent. Specifically the Seleucid Empire which was centered in modern day Syria and Lebanon and reached as far as Pakistan at the height of its power. It was a major centre of Hellenistic culture which maintained the preeminence of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....

 customs and where a Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

-speaking Macedonian elite dominated, mostly in the urban areas. Following the decline of the Seleucid empire Greek culture began to wane, particularly following the Muslim conquest.

Present Situation

Damascus has been home to an organized Greek community since 1913. There of course is also a significant Greco-Syrian population in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...

, as well as smaller communities in Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...

, Tartus and Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...

. As with most other ethnic minorities in Syria, most Greco-Syrians speak Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 only along with a school-taught foreign language such as French or English; however, a working or rudimentary knowledge of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

 for liturgical purposes as well as among older, particularily first and second-generation individuals, is relatively wide-spread. Damascus has a private Greek-language school as well for the community that is maintained by guest instructors from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

.

Greek Muslims in Syria

In addition to the Greek Orthodox Christian population there are also about 3,000 Greek speaking Muslims of Cretan origin in Al-Hamidiyah, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

. Greek Muslims constitute 60% of Al-Hamidiyah's population. Greek Muslims, as with their Greek Christian counterparts, are very much concerned with maintaining and preserving their culture and language.

See also

  • Greeks in Lebanon
    Greeks in Lebanon
    The Greek presence in Lebanon is dated to ancient times and the Phoenicians and Greeks, both maritime peoples shared close ties. The Greek alphabet for example is derived from the Phoenician...

  • Greeks in Turkey
    Greeks in Turkey
    The Greeks in Turkey constitute a population of Greek and Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox Christians who mostly live in Istanbul, including its district Princes' Islands, as well as on the two islands of the western entrance to the Dardanelles: Imbros and Tenedos .They are the remnants of the...

  • Greeks in Saudi Arabia
    Greeks in Saudi Arabia
    The Greek presence in Saudi Arabia predates the formation of both the Greek and Saudi states. It is mainly concentrated in the Hejaz region, bordering the Red Sea and centered around the city of Jeddah...

  • Antiochian Greeks
    Antiochian Greeks
    Antiochian Greeks are members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch who have resided in the territory of contemporary Turkish province of Hatay, which includes the old city of Antioch or modern-day Antakya. The community has a long heritage that dates back to the establishment of Antioch in 323...

  • Greece–Syria relations
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