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after the first wave of Colonization in Magna Graecia in the 8th century BC. It is from contact with these settlers, possibly ''Graecans'' of Doric descent, that the ''Greek'' name became established in the West.]] Today the people. General Names of Greece In most European languages and languages that have borrowed the name from one of these, the name of Greece has a common "gr" initial. The root of all of these was Graecus in Latin , and was also the ancient name that the Romans used for the Greeks:
In Middle Eastern and Eastern languages, the common root is "un". This root probably came from the term " Ionian ", a term for the inhabitants of the western coast of Anatolia :
The third root is "hl", used by a few languages around the world, including Greek:
Achaeans (Αχαιοί) See Also: Achaeans In ) or Lat. argentum. ''Argives'' is a political annotation drawn from the original capital of the Achaeans, Argos . ''Danaans'' is the name attributed to the tribe first dominating the Peloponnese and the area near Argos. ''Achaeans'' is the name of the tribe that, reinforced by the Aeolians , first dominated Greek territories, centering itself around its capital in Mycenae . Hellenes (Έλληνες) During the era of the , who dwellest afar, you who hold wintry Dodona in your sway, where your prophets the Selli dwell around you with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground."Homer, ''"Iliad", book 16, 233-235'' Ptolemy calls Epirus "primordial Hellas",Claudius Ptolemy, ''"Geographica", 3, 15'' and Aristotle reports that an ancient cataclysm was most severe "in ancient Hellas, in between Dodona and the Achelous river {Link without Title} , the land occupied by Seli and Graeci, who later came to be known as Hellenes".Aristotle, ''"Meteorologica, I, 352b"'' The prospect, therefore, that the Hellenes were a tribe from Epirus that later migrated southward to Phthia in Thessaly is a valid one. The extension of a particular cult of Zeus in Dodona (a tendency among the Greeks to form ever-larger communities and Amphictionies ) and the increasing popularity of the Delphi c cult caused the name to further extend to the rest of the peninsula, later cross the Aegean Sea into Asia Minor , and eventually westwards again to Sicily and southern Italy , collectively known as Magna Graecia . ''Hellenes'' in the wider meaning of the word appears in writing for the first time in an inscription by Echembrotus , dedicated to Heracles for his victory in the Amphictyonic Games ,Pausanias, ''"Description of Greece", 10, 7, 3'' and refers to the 48th Olympiad (584 BC). It appears to have been introduced in the 8th century BC with the Olympic Games , and permanently established itself by the 5th century BC. After the Greco-Persian Wars an inscription was written in Delphi celebrating victory over the Persians and praising Pausanias as the leading general of the Hellenes.Thucydides, ''"Histories", I, 132'' Awareness of a pan-Hellenic unity was promoted by religious festivals, most significantly in the Eleusinian Mysteries , in which prospective initiates had to speak Greek , and almost as importantly through participation in the four Panhellenic Games —including the Olympic Games—in which participants were recognized by tribal affiliation. Neither women nor non-Greeks were allowed to participate; the occasional exception in later times, such as that made for Emperor Nero , was a sure sign of Roman cultural hegemony. The development of mythological genealogies of descent from from Macedonia, whence it was never yet possible to buy a decent slave." Polybius , on the other hand, regards the tribes of Western Hellas , Epirus, and Macedonia as Hellenic in every respect.J. Juthner, ''"Hellenen and Barbaren", Leipzig, 1928, pp.4'' Hellenes and barbarians In the following centuries, ''Hellene'' gained a broader meaning, coming to signify civilized people in general, and typically contrasted with '' Barbarian '', representing the uncivilized. The Greek tribes quickly noticed that they did not speak the same tongue as their neighbours, and used the term "βάρβαρος" ("barbarian") for them, with the meaning "speaker of a foreign language". The term βάρβαρος is thought to be considered it his obligation to preach the Gospel to all men, "Hellenes and barbarians, both wise and foolish".Saint Paul, ''"Epistle to the Romans", 1, 14'' Discrimination between Hellenes and barbarians lasted until the Fourth Century BC . Euripides thought it plausible that Hellenes should rule over barbarians, because the first were destined for Freedom and the other for Slavery .Euripides, ''"Iphigeneia at Aulis", 1400'' Aristotle came to the conclusion that "the nature of a barbarian and a slave is one and the same".Aristotle, ''"Republic", I, 5'' Racial differentiation faded away through the teachings of Stoics , who distinguished between nature and convention and taught that all men have equal claim before God and thus by nature cannot be unequal to each other. In time, ''Hellene'', to use the words of Isocrates , became a trait of intellect, not race. is the evolution of classical Greek civilization into a civilization with global proportions, this time open to everybody. Similarly, "Hellene" evolved from a national name signifying an Ethnic Greek to a cultural term signifying anybody who conducted his life according to Greek Mores . Greeks (Γραικοί), Yunani (Ίωνες), and Yavan (יָוָן) is one of the nine Greek -speaking towns in the province of Apulia , Italy . Their inhabitants are descendants of the first wave of Greek settlers in Italy and Sicily in the 8th century BC. The dialect they speak is derived from the Doric Greek of the original settlers, but evolved separately from Hellenistic Greek . The people of these town call themselves ''Grekos'', from the Latin ''Graecus'', and consider themselves Hellenes .]] The modern English word ''Greek'' is derived from Latin '' Graecus '', which in turn comes from Greek '' Γραικός '' (Graikos), the name of a Boeotia n tribe that migrated to Italy in the 8th century BC, and it is by that name the Hellenes were known in the West . Homer , while reciting the Boeotian forces in the ''Iliad'''s Catalogue Of Ships , provides the first known reference to a Boeotian city named Graea ,Homer, ''"Iliad", II, 498'' and Pausanias mentions that Graea was the name of the ancient city of Tanagra .Pausanias, ''"Boeotics and Phocaeic, book 5, pp. 136'' Cumae , a city lying to the west of Neapolis (now Naples ) and south of Rome , was founded by Cymaeans and Chalkideans as well as ''Graeans'' who by coming into contact with Romans may very well be responsible for naming all Hellenic speaking tribes ''Graeci''. The modern Italian city of Grai was also founded in antiquity by Graeans. Aristotle , our oldest source mentioning the word, states that a natural cataclysm swept across central Epirus, a land where its inhabitants used to be called ''γραικοί'' (Graeci) (Γραικοί) and were later named Hellenes (Έλληνες).Aristotle, ''"Meteorologica, I, 352a"'' In mythology, Graecus is a cousin of Latinus , and the word seems to be related with ''γηραιός'' (geraius, anile), which was the title given to the priests of Dodona . They were also named ''Σελλοί'' (Selloi)—which shows the relation between the two basic names of the Greeks . The dominant theory on the colonization of Italy has it that part of the people living in Epirus crossed Dodona and migrated to Phthia , becoming infamous as ''Hellenes'' the tribe Achilles led to Troy . The remaining part merged with other tribes that arrived later, without losing its name. From there they traveled westwards to Italy, before the first wave of colonists in the 8th century BC arrived at Sicily and southern Italy. A wholly different term came to establish itself in the East . The ancient peoples of the Middle East referred to the Hellenes as ''Yunan'', deriving from Persian '' Yauna '', itself a loan of Greek ''Ιωνία'' ( Ionia ), the western coast of Asia Minor . It is by affiliation with the Ionia n tribe the Persians conquered in the late 6th century BC that their name extended to all Hellenes. All peoples under Persian influence adopted the term, and it is from this root that Sanskrit '' Yavana '' derives, which one encounters in ancient Sanskrit sources, first attested in Panini 's grammar, and later referring, together with Pali '' Yona '', ''Yonaka'' to the Indo-Greeks . The term ''Yunan'' is used in current Persian , Arabic (يوناني), Turkish , Hindi (युनान), Indonesian and Malay . The related name, ''Yavan'' or ''Javan'' (יָוָן), was used to refer to the Greek nation in the Eastern Mediterranean in early Biblical times. There was an eponymous character Javan mentioned in '' Genesis '' 10:2. "Hellene" comes to mean "pagan" The name ''Hellene'' came to mean "pagan" in the first Christian centuries and retained that meaning until the end of the millennium, during which the early Christian church played an instrumental role in accelerating the transition. Contact with Jews was critical, since it was their interaction with Christians that led to Christians' use of ''Hellene'' as a means of religious differentiation. Jews , like Greeks , distinguished themselves from foreigners, but unlike Greeks, did so according to religious rather than cultural standards. The domination of the Greeks by Rome enhanced the prestige of the religious institutions that remained intact. Just as the Greeks considered all uncivilized men to be barbarians, so did the Jews consider all non-Jews to be '' Goyim '' (literally, "nations"). Early Christians adopted that religious differentiation of humankind, and so the formerly cultural meaning of the word ''Hellene'' became marginalized by its religious element, which eventually supplanted the older meaning entirely. Thereafter, Christians came to refer to all pagans as ''Hellenes''. , but as ''haiþno'' " Heathen " in Ulfilas ' Gothic ; Wycliffe and Coverdale likewise have ''heathen'') must therefore signify her religion. The development towards a purely religious meaning was slow and completed at approximately the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Athenian statesman Aristeides picked out the ''Hellenes'' as one of the representative pagan peoples of the world along with the Egyptians and the Chaldaeans .Aristides, ''"Apology"'' Later, Clement Of Alexandria reports an unknown Christian writer who named all of the above ''Hellenes'' and spoke of two old nations and one new: the Christian nation.Clement of Alexandria, ''"Miscellanies", 6, 5, 41'' Several books written at this time demonstrate quite clearly the Semantic shift. Perhaps the first was Tatian's ''Address to the Greeks'', completed in AD 170, where Tatian criticizes pagan beliefs in order to defend Christian ones. Most important of the later works was Athanasius' ''Against Hellenes'', originally titled ''Against Pagans'' according to older manuscripts. It was changed by a future writer at a time when ''Hellene'' had lost its ancient meaning entirely. Henceforth, ''Hellene'' no longer signified an ethnic Greek or those adhered to Greek culture, but pagans in general, regardless of race. Emperor Julian's attempt to restore paganism to the forefront of society failed, and according to Pope Gregory I , "matters moved in favor of Christianity and the position of the Hellenes was severely aggravated".Pope Gregory, ''"Against Julian", 1, 88'' Half a century later Christians protest against the Eparch of Alexandria , whom they accused of being a Hellene.Suda dictionary, entry τ (t) Theodosius I initiated the first ''legal'' steps against paganism, but it was Justinian's legal reforms that triggered pagan persecutions on a massive scale. The '' Corpus Juris Civilis '' contained two statutes which decreed the total destruction of ''Hellenism'', even in civic life, and were zealously enforced even of men in high position. The official suppression of paganism made non-Christians a public threat which further derogated the meaning of ''Hellene''. Paradoxically, Tribonian , Justinian's own legal commissioner, according to the '' Suda '' dictionary, was a ''Hellene'' (pagan).Socrates, ''"Ecclesiastical History", 7, 14'' Romans (Ρωμαίοι) and Romioi (Ρωμιοί) was a 16th-century German historian. He created Byzantine historiography for the purpose of distinguishing medieval Greek from ancient Roman history.]] ''Romans'' is the political name by which the Greeks were known during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The name originally signified the inhabitants of the city of Rome in Italy, but with the elevation of the Greeks in the Roman Empire, it soon lost its connection with the Latins . In 212 AD, Emperor Caracella's Constitutio Antoniniana granted all free people in all Roman provinces citizenship. However, the Greeks transmogrified their newly acquired political title (Romans) and began to refer to themselves as Romioi (Romios/Ρωμιος for singular). The new term was created in order to establish a dualistic connotation that represented the Greeks' Roman citizenship and their Hellenic ancestry, culture, and language. Moreover, the new term represented the Greeks' religious affiliation toward Orthodox Christendom signifying that the Christianization of the Roman Empire led to only the religious vitiation of the name ''Hellene''. Overall, the word Romios came to represent the Greek inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire. It is even used today (albeit extremely rarely), being the most popular national name after Hellene . The foreign borrowed name initially had a more political than national meaning, which went hand in hand with the universalizing ideology of Rome that aspired to encompass all nations of the world under one true God. Up until the early 7th century, when the Empire still extended over large areas and many peoples, the use of the name ''Roman'' always indicated Citizenship and never descent. Various ethnicities could apply their own Ethnonym s or Toponym s to disambiguate citizenship from genealogy, which is why the historian Procopius prefers to call the Byzantine s ''Hellenized Romans'',Procopius, ''"Gothic war", 3, 1 & "Vandal war", 1, 21'' while other authors use ''Romhellenes'' and ''Graecoromans'',Lambru, ''"Palaeologeia and Peloponnesiaka", 3, 152'' aiming to indicate descent and citizenship simultaneously. The Lombard and Arab invasions in the same century resulted in the loss of most of the provinces including Italy and all of Asia , save for Anatolia . The areas that did remain were mostly Greek , thereby turning the empire into a much more cohesive unit that eventually developed a fairly self-conscious identity. Unlike in the previous centuries, there is a clear sense of Nationalism reflected in Byzantine documents towards the end of the 1st Millennium AD. The Byzantines' failure to protect the Pope from the Lombards forced the Pope to search for help elsewhere. The man who answered his call was Pepin II of Aquitaine , whom he had named "Patrician", a title that caused a serious conflict. In 772, Rome ceased commemorating the emperor that first ruled from Constantinople, and in 800 Charlemagne was crowned Roman emperor by the Pope himself, officially rejecting Byzantines as true Romans. According to the Frankish interpretation of events, the Papacy appropriately "transferred Roman imperial authority from the Greeks to the Germans , in the name of His Greatness, Charles".Pope Innocent, ''"Decretalium", "Romanourm imperium in persona magnifici Caroli a Grecis transtuli in Germanos."'', From then on, a war of names about the New Rome revolved around Roman imperial rights. Unable to deny that an emperor did exist in Constantinople, they sufficed in renouncing him as a successor of Roman heritage on the grounds that Greeks have nothing to do with the Roman legacy. Pope Nicholas I wrote to Emperor Michael III , "You ceased to be called 'Emperor of the Romans', since the Romans whom you claim to be Emperor of, are in fact according to you barbarians."Epistola 86, of year 865, PL 119, 926 Henceforth, the emperor in the East was known and referred to as ''Emperor of the Greeks'' and their land as ''Greek Empire'', reserving both "Roman" titles for the Frankish king. The interests of both sides were nominal rather than actual. No land areas were ever claimed, but the insult the Byzantines took on the accusation demonstrates how close at heart the Roman name (ρωμαίος) had become to them. In fact, Bishop Cremon Liutprand , a delegate of the Frankish court, was briefly imprisoned in Constantinople for not referring to the Roman emperor by his appropriate title.Liutprand, ''"Antapodosis"'' His imprisonment was a reprisal for the re-establishment of the Holy Roman Empire by his king, Otto I . ''See Rüm and Rumeli for Arabic and Islamic changes of meaning.'' Byzantines (Βυζαντινοί) By the time of the Fall Of Rome most easterners had come to think of themselves as Christians, and, more than ever before, had some idea that they were Romans. Although they may not have liked their government any more than they had previously, the Greeks among them could no longer consider it foreign, run by Latins from Italy. The word ''Hellene'' itself had already began to mean a pagan rather than a person of Greek race or culture. Instead the usual word for an eastern Greek had begun to be Roman, with the contemporary rendering of ''Byzantine''.Warren Treadgold, ''"History of the Byzantine State and Society", pp.136, 1997, Stanford'' The term "''Byzantine Empire''" was invented in 1557, about a century after the Fall Of Constantinople by German historian Hieronymus Wolf , who introduced a system of Byzantine Historiography in his work ''Corpus Historiae Byzantinae'' in order to distinguish ancient Roman from medieval Greek history without drawing attention to their ancient predecessors. Several authors adopted his terminology thereafter but remained relatively unknown. When interest did arise, English historians preferred to use Roman terminology ( Edward Gibbon used it in a particularly belittling manner); while French historians preferred to call it Greek.Edward Gibbon ''"Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"'', Alexandre Rambeau, ''"L'empire Grecque au X'siecle"'' The term reappeared in the mid-19th century and has since dominated completely in Historiography , even in Greece despite objections by Constantine Paparregopoulos (Gibbon's influential Greek counterpart) that the empire should be called Greek. Few Greek scholars did adopt the terminology at that time, but only became popular in the second half of the 20th century.Ρωμαίος (Roman) remained a massively popular name for a Greek in Greece even after the foundation of the modern Greek state in 1829. ''Anastasius Eftaliotes'', published his history of Greece series in 1901 under the title "History of Romanity", reflecting how well rooted Roman heritage was in Greeks, as late as the 20th century. Revival in the meaning of "Hellene" into Constantinople , by Eugène Delacroix , 1840. The sack of Constantinople in 1204 by the Crusaders acerbated Greek nationalism and created disdain for the Latins which is well illustrated in the documents of the era. Nicetas Choniates portrays an especially lively account of the sack and its aftermath.]] The secular use of ''Hellene'' revived in the 9th century, after paganism had been eclipsed and was no longer a threat to Christianity 's dominance. The revival followed the same track as its disappearance. The name had originally declined from a national term in Antiquity , to a cultural term in the Hellenistic years, to a religious term in the early Christian years. With the demise of paganism and the revival of learning in the Byzantine Empire it had regained its cultural meaning, and finally, by the 11th century it had returned to its ancient national form of an "ethnic Greek", synonymous at the time to "Roman". Accounts from the 11th century onward (from Anna Komnena, Michael Psellos, John III Vatatzes, George Pletho Gemistos and several others) prove that the revival of the term Hellene (as a potential replacement for ethnic terms like Graekos and Romios) did occur. For example, Anna Komnena writes of her contemporaries as Hellenes, but does not use the word as a synonym for a pagan worshipper. Moreover, Anna boasts about her Hellenic classical education, and she speaks as a native Greek and not as an outsider/foreigner who learned Greek. The refounding of the University Of Constantinople in the palaces of Magnaura promoted an interest in learning, particularly in Greek studies. Patriarch Photius was irritated because "Hellenic studies are preferred over spiritual works". Michael Psellus thought it a compliment when Emperor Romanus III praised him for being raised "in the Hellenic way" and a weakness for Emperor Michael IV for being completely devoid of a Hellenic education,Romanus III, ''"Towards the son of Romanus himself", p.49'' while Anna Comnena claimed that she had "carried the study of Hellenic to the highest pitch".Anna Comnena, ''"Alexiad", prologue 1'' Also, commenting on the orphanage her father founded, she stated that "there could be seen a Latin being trained, and a Scythian studying Hellenic, and a Roman handling Hellenic texts and an illiterate Hellene speaking Hellenic correctly".Anna Comnena, ''"Alexiad", 15, 7'' In this case we reach a point where the Byzantines are Romans on the political level but Hellenic by descent. Eustathius Of Thessalonike disambiguates the distinction in his account of the fall of Constantintople in 1204 by referring to the invaders with the generic term "Latins", encompassing all adherents to the Roman Catholic Church , and the "Hellenes" as the dominant population of the empire.Espugnazione di Thessalonica, pp.32, Palermo 1961 After the fall of Constantinople to the heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors.John Vatatzes, ''"Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369 - 378, (1872)'' His son, Theodore II Lascaris , was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?"Theodore Lascaris, ''"Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8'' The evolution of the name was slow and never did replace the "Roman" name completely. Nicephorus Gregoras named his historical work ''Roman History''.Nicephorus Gregoras, ''"Roman History"'' Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus , a big supporter of Greek education, in his own memoirs always refers to the Byzantines as "Romans",John Catacuzenus, ''"History", 4, 14'' yet, in a letter sent by the '' Sultan '' of Egypt , Nasser Hassan Ben Mohamed , referred to him as "Emperor of the Hellenes, Bulgars , Asanians , Vlachs , Russians , Alanians " but not of the "Romans".Similar texts were composited by the scribes of the Kings in the north, e.g. of Russia, Poland, Lithuania... Over the next century, George Gemistus Plethon pointed out to Constantine Palaeologus that the people he leads are "Hellenes, as their race and language and education testifies",George Gemistus Plethon, ''"Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247'' while Laonicus Chalcondyles was a proponent of completely substituting "Roman" terminology for "Greek" terminology.Laonicus Chalcondyles, ''"History I", 6 ’¦Å’¦Å'' Constantine Palaeologus himself in the end proclaimed Constantinople the "refuge for Christians, hope and delight of all Hellenes".George Phrantzes, ''"History", 3,6'' Hellenic continuity and Byzantine consciousness Printed Charter of the Greek Community of Trieste , Italy 1787 - Archives of the Community of Trieste]] The "Byzantines" did not only refer to themselves as ''Romioi'' in order to retain both their Roman citizenship and their ancient Hellenic heritage. In fact, the overwhelming majority of the "Byzantines" themselves were very conscious of their uninterrupted continuity with the ancient Greeks. Even though the ancient Greeks were not Christians, the "Byzantines" still regarded them as their ancestors. A common substitute for the term ''Hellene'' other than ''Romios'' was the term ''Graekos'' (Γραίκος). This term was used often by the "Byzantines" (along with ''Romios'') for ethnic self-identification. Evidence of the use of the term "Graekos" can be found in the works of Priskos, a historian of the 5th century AD. The historian stated in one of his accounts that while unofficially on an embassy to Attila the Hun, he had met at Attila's court someone who dressed like a Scythian yet spoke Greek. When Priskos asked the person where he had learned the language, the man smiled and said that he was a Graekos by birth. Many other "Byzantine" authors speak of the Empire's natives as Greeks {Link without Title} or Hellenes such as Constantine Porphyrogennitos of the 10th century AD. His accounts discuss about the revolt of a Slavic tribe in the district of Patras in the Peloponnesos. On a sidenote, the Slavic revolt was not part of a larger Slavic invasion since most Slavs were placed in ''Sclavinai'' or segregated Slavic communities meant to provide Byzantine forces extra man-power for military campaigns. Constantine states that the Slavs who revolted first proceeded to sack the dwellings of their neighbors, the Greeks (ton Graikon), and next they moved against the inhabitants of the city of Patras. Overall, ancient Hellenic continuity was evident all throughout the history of the Eastern Roman Empire. The "Byzantines" were not merely a general Orthodox Christian populace that referred to themselves as merely "Romans." Though they used the term for legal and administrative purposes, other terms were in fact used to ethnically distinguish themselves. In short, the Greek inhabitants of the Eastern Roman Empire were very conscious of their ancient Hellenic heritage and were able to preserve their identity while adapting to the changes the world was undergoing at the time. Contest between ''Hellene'', ''Roman'', and ''Greek'' After the fall of the but was permanently resolved only recently in the 20th century after the loss of Asia Minor to the Turks . The struggle reflected the diverging view of history between Classicist s and Medievalist s ( Katharevousa and Demotic ) in their attempt to define Greek Nationality at a time without a Byzantine state to foster the movement. The concept of ''Hellene'' for a person of Greek origin was already well established since the late Middle Ages , but for the majority of the population, especially those in rural areas away from urban centers, the dominant perception was still that of a ''Roman'', a descendant of the Byzantine Empire. Scholar Rigas Feraios called "Bulgars and Arvanites , Armenians and Romans" to rise in arms against the Ottomans.Rigas Feraios, ''"Thurius", line 45'' General Makrygiannis recalled a friend asking him: "What say you, is the Roman far away from coming? Are we to sleep with the Turks and awaken with the Romans?"Strategus Makrygiannis, ''"Memoirs", book 1, pp.117, Athens, 1849'' ''Greek (Γραικός)'' was the least popular of the three terms, but interestingly enough received by scholars disproportionately larger attention compared to its popular use. inhabitants of Greece. The absence of a Byzantine state gradually led to the marginalization of the Roman name and allowed Hellene (Έλλην) to resurface as the primary national name. where many naïve leaders and war figures distinguished between idle Romans and rebellious Hellenes.Ioannis Kakrides, ''"Ancient Greeks and Greeks of 1821", Thessalonike, 1956'' General Theodoros Kolokotronis in particular made a point of always addressing his revolutionary troops as Hellenes and invariably wore an Ancient-Greek-style Helmet . issued after the Treaty Of Sevres . The Greek Great Idea guided foreign policy from the late 19th to early 20th century and briefly materialized in 1920 when mainly Greek-speaking territories of western Asia Minor were ceded over from Turkey .]] General Makrygiannis tells of a priest who performed his duty in front of the "Romans" (civilians) but secretly spied on the "Hellenes" (fighters). "Roman" almost came to be associated with passiveness and enslavement, and "Hellene" brought back the memory of ancient glories and the fight for freedom. Eyewitness historian Ambrosius Phrantzes writes that while the Turkish authorities and colonists in Xylokastro had surrendered to the advancing Greek army, reportedly, shouts of defiance made that lead to their massacre by the mob: "They spoke to the petty and small Hellenes as 'Romans'. It was as if they called them 'slaves'! The Hellenes not bearing to hear the word, for it reminded of their situation and the outcome of tyranny..."Ambrosius Phrantzes, ''"Abridged history of a revived Greece", pp.398, Athens, 1839'' The citizens of the newly independent state were called "Hellenes" making the connection with Ancient Greece all the more clear. That in turn also fostered a fixation on antiquity and negligence for the other periods of history, especially the Byzantine Empire , for an age that bore different names and was a devisor to different, and in many ways more important legacies. The classicist trend was soon balanced by the Greek Great Idea that sought to recover Constantinople and reestablish the Byzantine Empire for all Greeks. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs proclaimed in front of Parliament in 1844, "The Kingdom Of Greece is not Greece; it is only part of it, a small and poor part of Greece... There are two great centers of Hellenism . Athens is the capital of the Kingdom. Constantinople is the great capital, the City, dream and hope of all Greeks."Markezines, ''"Political History of Modern Greece", book A, pp.208, Athens'' See also
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