Question about Halkidiki

[slovenec zrinski]

I got a question from a fellow slovene some time ago on FB. He asks about Halkidiki and I cannot answer because I dont know what to answer but perhaps some of u can? And pls I am reposting his message in its entirety out of convenience and laziness and I am probably equally disturbed by the way he uses "slavic" as many of u are but...can u pls try and ignore that and perhaps have an answer to what he actually asks?

"as I was always interested in authentic culture, music, language and history ( like you LÖL ) I was always asking myself about the existence of slavic culture or traditions on Sithonia. Whereas its easy to find slavic vestiges all over Greece, the local languages for example the peleponnes also on the islands like Crete and Andros, it was very hard for me on Sithonia and Chalkidike in the centre of macedonia (!) just two toponymes that in some kind sound slavic. I know Chalkidike was rehelenized very early but I cannot believe in a nonexistence of slavic vestiges there ... maybe YOU KNOW MORE due to your special connections to this wonderful part of the world best regards ! (hope u understand my language"

Any ideas?

[Soldier of Macedon]

I was always asking myself about the existence of slavic culture or traditions on Sithonia..........Sithonia and Chalkidike in the centre of macedonia.......

Zrinski, you may find the below useful:

http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3586

In it you will find another link under the title 1910 - Macedonia in Austrian Military Map. This map allows you to zoom into specific regions and would be a good place to start looking. The only downfall with this map is that the amount of recorded place names become less numerous the closer one goes toward the coast. Also, keep in mind there are Turkish and Greek place names present in the region due to political, religious, historical and geographical circumstances.

[slovenec zrinski]

Thank you very much Soldier of Macedon. I will forward the link to him and see what he can get out of it He is actually a slovenian from the Austrian side of the border so, perhaps because of that, he has, in general, a better understanding of Macedonian matters than most other Slovenians.
I actually think he is interested in the political, religious, historical and geographical reasons as to why there seems to be fewer Macedonian names in Halkidiki (I havent looked into that myself at all so I dont actually know if that statement is true) and the other place compared to the rest of Macedonia.

[momce]

It could be because Halkidiki was not part of the original Macedonian heartland but was a centre for greek and hellenistic settlements? For example I dont see greekoids claiming Macedonia until the rise of Christianity, even the ancient greekoids understood tribal boundaries to some extent.

[Soldier of Macedon]

I actually think he is interested in the political, religious, historical and geographical reasons as to why there seems to be fewer Macedonian names in Halkidiki..........

The maritime, strategic and commercial value of the Macedonian coastline has been recognisable since antiquity, and that has inevitably invited colonisation throughout the ages. That is also why it has been more linguistically cosmopolitan. And as there have been extensive periods of time where Macedonians weren't in control of their own country, the balance of power and influence was tipped in the favour of foreigners. Think of the northern and eastern Adriatic coastline and the Italic influences that, in some regions, are more influential than Slovene or Croat.

It could be because Halkidiki was not part of the original Macedonian heartland but was a centre for greek and hellenistic settlements?

It became a part of Macedonia when Phillip II conquered it. Before that, it was geographically considered as Thrace, but then so was much of Macedonia centuries earlier. There were Hellenic colonies from earlier times that were located among the indigenous Thracian settlements, but most were destroyed by Phillip. The term "Hellenistic", which is somewhat pretentious, refers to the time from Alexander's death and onward, and I am not sure if there was any significant Hellenic-speaking settlements until some time later.

[momce]

Yes I was going to add that that Phillip destroyed most of the Hellenistic settlements in this area. The relation with the "Hellenistic" was always tenuous at best.

[Sweet Sixteen]

"Poli" is of Italian origin.

Bill77 is back spreading knowledge.

Poligiros I have established that with a name of pligiros that its not greek more Turkish.

Actually, when Polygyros was founded the Turks had not yet appeared (in the universe). The etymology of Polygyros is briefed here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygyros#Name

[George S.]

What were so called greeks emigrating to the aegean 500 years ago that is precisely when the turks moved in and displaced a lot of greeks everywhere.It all seems very odd.You can't be a greek & macedonian at the same time.Only for political purposes.I know of greeks with poli in their names who are from turkey.Whether these people were once greeks only god knows.When the turks came about 500 years ago there was a lot of population settlements & displacements.There was no immunity from that.
In relation to the hellenistic period real hellenistic period ended when alexander conquered greece.Prior to that people were considered hellenes.
People trying to revive hellenism today is not the same hellenism.It all ended for greece after alexander conquered themThe greeks hated the macedonians that much so that ensued after alexander two anti macedonian wars centuries later.There was so much hate & resentment of the macedonians for having the greeks subdued.

[Bill77]

Bill77 is back spreading knowledge.

Well if we are talking about surnames,

Poli is a surname of Italian origin. The name refers to:

Afro Poli (1902–1988), Italian operatic baritone
Andrea Poli (b. 1989), Italian professional football player
Antonio De Poli (b. 1960), Italian politician; member of the European Parliament
Barbara Fusar-Poli (b. 1972), Italian ice dancer
Dante Poli (b. 1967), Argentine professional football player
Eros Poli (b. 1963), Italian professional road bicycle racer
Fausto Poli (1581–1653), Italian Roman Catholic archbishop; private secretary to Pope Urban VIII
Giuseppe Saverio Poli (1746–1825), Italian scientist
Jacopo Poli (contemporary), Italian manager of the Poli Distillerie grappa distillery
Ninsun Poli (contemporary), Assyrian singer and songwriter in Sweden
Piero Poli (b. 1960), Italian Olympic rower
Riccardo Poli (contemporary), Italian computer scientist and professor

The "Giros" ending........well probably his ancestors invented the Rotisserie.

[George S.]

Bill how about poli want a cracker?Even the birds have got it.