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The message you sent us is an intentionally oversimplified, deceptive presentation of
the issue.
A major part of northen Greece is called Macedonia. Anyone in the world could call his
city, region, or country MACEDONIA (I think there is a city called Athens somewhere in
Ohio but no Greek complained about it, right?). However, the people of FYROM did not
only name their country "Macedonia", but they have systematically tried to distort
history. Below I have pasted a summary of the evidence indicating that Alexander and
his Macedones were Greeks. The Slavic tribes arrived in the Balkans some centuries
after Alexander's times. Yet FYROM's school text books teach that Macedonians were not
Greeks, present the ancient Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus as having no relation to
ancient Greece, while trying at the same time to support an indirect link between
today's FYROM's "Macedonians" and the Macedonians of the ancient world. You (people of
FYROM) prepared even a children's edition of "the story of ancient Macedonia" and
Alexander the great. You can not instil patriotism or nationalism by stealing other
people's history. You chose to make Vergina's sun your symbol and put it on your flag.
One may ask "why are you so sensitive, how can you be afraid of such a small and weak
country?" First, its ancient history is all that the Greek NATO colony has left to be
proud of. Second, the smallest country can be very dangerous when backed by a
super-power (you all know that the very friendly relations between USA and FYROM were
disrupted only recently). Lastly, but most importanlty, Greece has been struggling to
maintain its borders. Turkey has been the major but not the only threat. There is a
history of attempts to annex the Greek provinces of Macedonia and Thrace (the so
called "Macedonian issue"). Tito in 1944 took a number of steps trying to establish a
"united Macedonian State" in southern Serbia (created the "Macedonian Government",
called a Slavonic dialect "Macedonian language", "Macedonian church" and published a
book on the "History of the Macedonian nation"). Maps were issued naming Greek
Macedonia "Aegean Macedonia" (and thus part of the "United Macedonia") and limiting
Greece's northern frontiers to mountain Olympus. Therefore Greeks do have good reasons
to be sensitive......
Greeks stood whole-hearted at the side of the Serbs during the destruction of
Yugoslavia by NATO, and they will do the same for the people of FYROM. During the
bombing of Serbia I tried to inform all people at my work, even used a scientific-only
messages list to spread the word about the injustice perpetrated against the Serbs,
knowing and bearing the consequenses; I dragged my husband and child to the
demonstration in DC to stand by the side of the true victims. And I will do the same
for the people of FYROM. I really don't expect that they would do the same for me and
my country (I would expect more support from consciousness-bearing Americans than any
of our neithboring countries). But I do expect from FYROM to respect my country's
borders and history.
As to why would anybody be proud to be the descendant of a great conqueror, please
read Alexander's speech that I am pasting immediately below. You will chill too if you
think during what times were these words spoken.........
Vassiliki the Greek
Alexander's speech to his solders one year before his
death
I wish all of you, now that the wars are coming to an end, to
live happily in peace. All mortals from now on shall live like
one people, united, and peacefully working towards a common
prosperity. You should regard the whole world as your country,
a country where the best govern, with common laws, and no
racial distinctions. I do not separate people, as many
narrow-minded others do, into Hellenes and barbarians. I am
not interested in the origin or race of citizens, I only
distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me, each
foreigner is a Hellene, and each bad Hellene is a barbarian. If
ever there appear differences among you, you must not
resolve them by taking to arms; you should resolve them in
peace. If need be, I shall act as your negotiator.
Were ancient Macedonians Greek?
There is no doupt that ancient Macedonians were Greek. It is
thoroughly proved by historic documents and archaeological
discoveries which can be found in history books and museums
in Greece and arround the world. The most important
archeological discovery in Macedonia is the tomb of King
Philippos II. It was excavated in Vergina, Greece in 1978 and
it proves beyond any doubt the Greekness of ancient
Macedonia. All the findings are characteristic of the Greek
culture and all the inscriptions are written using the Greek
language. Among the discoveries of this tomb is the "Vergina
sun" the symbol that FYROM attempted to use on its flag
initially.
Some facts which prove that ancient
Macedonians were Greek.
Macedonians spoke a dialect of the Greek language
All the monuments and inscriptions found in the
Macedonia region are written in the Greek language.
It is also crearly stated by the Latin historian Titus Livius
:
"Aetolians, Acarnanians, Macedonians, men of the same
language..." (T. Livius XXXI,29, 15)
and the Greek historian Herodotos :
"Since they speak the same language, they should end
their disputes by means of heralds or messengers..."
(Herodotos, The histories 7.9.2)
Macedonians had Greek names
All the ancient Macedonian names mentioned in history or
found on tombs are Greek. All the kings of Ancient
Macedonia had Greek names. Nobody discovered ancient
Macedonian names ending to -ov or -ovski or whatever.
Alexander's name is Greek. The word "Alexandros" is
produced from the prefix alex(=protector) and the word
andros(=man) meaning "he who protects men". The prefix
"alex" can be found in many Greek words today
(alexiptoto=parachute, alexisfairo=bulletproof - all these
words have the meaning of protetion).
Philip's name is also Greek. It is produced from the prefix
Philo(=friendly to something) and the word ippos(=horse)
meaning the man who is friendly to horses. The prefix
"philo" and the word "ippos" are also found in many
words of Greek origin today (philosophy,philology,
hippodrome,hippocampus).
Some more ancient Macedonian names can be found here
Macedonians fought together with the rest of the Greeks.
Macedonians always fought along with the other Greek
city-states against enemies from Asia.
Macedonians took part in the Olympic games
It is well known then ONLY Greeks were allowed to take
part in the ancient Olympic games. The first Macedonian
who took part in the Olympic games was Alexander I,
King of Macedonia between 498-454 bc .
Macedonians celebrated the same festivals as the rest of
the Greeks.
Examples of festivals which were celebrated in Macedonia
as well as in other Greek states are the "Hetaireidia", the
"Apellaia" and many more.
Macedonians worshiped the same Gods as the rest of the
Greeks
Several temples dedicated to the Greek Gods have beem
discovered in Macedonia and especially in Dion the
religious center of ancient Macedonians. It is obvious
that the Macedonias worshiped the 12 Olympian Gods as
the rest of the Greeks The Gods were "living" on Mount
Olympos which happens to be located in Macedonia.
Would that be possible if there was hostility between
Macedonians and Greeks? This is another proof that
Macedonia was considered a part of Grrece.
The regions of ancient Macedonia had Greek names
The regions which formed ancient Macedonia had Greek
names. Most of these names are used in Greece even
today. You can see a list of the regions of ancient
Macedonia here
Macedonian architecture was similar to the Greek
architecture
All the buldings found in the Macedonia region have many
common characteristics with the ones found in the rest of
Greece. Palaces, temples, theaters markets are
characteristic sampes of ancient Greek architecture.
Some more evidence from history
1. The famous ancient Greek play writer Euripidis wrote and
originally presented most of his plays in Pella, the capital of
Macedonia. How was that possible if the audiance spoke a
different language?
2. After the battle of the Grannikos Alexander the Great sent
to Athens some pieces of armor captured from the Persians
with the following inscription :
"Alexander, son of Philip and the Hellenes, except the
Lakedaimonians, offer these spoils taken from the barbarians
of Asia".
3. Macedonia was a member of the Delphic Amfictiony , an
institution which was open only to Greeks
4. When Alexander arrived in Asia he visited the ancient Greek
town of Troy (Troia), where he sacrifised to the Greek Gods to
help him in his quest.
A part from the "Treaty of Alliance" between king Philip V
of Macedonia and Hannibal.
"This is a sworn treaty made between us, Hannibal the
general, Mago, Myrkan, Barmokar and all other Carthaginian
senators present with him, and all Carthaginians serving under
him, on the one side, and Xenophanes the Athenian, son of
Kleomachos, the envoy whom King Philip, son of Demetrios,
sent to us on behalf of himself, and the Macedonians and
allies, on the other side. `In the presence of Zeus, Hera and
Apollon; in the presence of the Genius of Carthage; ...and in
the presence of all the gods who possess Carthage; and in the
presence of all the Gods who possess Macedonia and the rest
of Hellas; and in the presence of all the gods of the army who
preside over this oath. Thus said Hannibal the general and all
the Carthaginian senators along with him and the
Carthaginian soldiers: ...That King Philip and the Macedonians
and the rest of the Hellenes. . .
(Polybios 7.9.1-7)
The speech of Alexander I when he was admitted to the
Olympic games
"Men of Athens... Had I not greatly at heart the common
welfare of Hellas I should not have come to tell you; but I am
myself Hellene by descent, and I would not willingly see
Hellas exchange freedom for slavery.... If you prosper in this
war, forget not to do something for my freedom; consider the
risk I have run, out of zeal for the Hellenic cause, to acquaint
you with what Mardonius intends, and to save you from being
surprised by the barbarians. I am Alexander of Macedon."
(Herodotus, The Histories, 9.45)
What was the origin of ancient Macedonians?
"The name of the ancient Macedonians is derived from
Macedon, who was the grandchild of Deukalion, the father of
all Greeks. This we may infer from Hesiod's genealogy. It may
be proven that Macedonians spoke Greek since Macedon, the
ancestor of Macedonians, was a brother of Magnes, the
ancestor of Thessalians, who spoke Greek."
(Professor N G L Hammond, University of Cambridge, UK,
1993)
" This was Macedonia in the strict sense, the land where
settled immigrands of Greek stock later to be called
Macedonians"
(Professor W J Woodhouse, University of Sydney, Australia,
1917)
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/10/01 07:31PM >>>
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<http://images.pravda.ru/images/newsline/01-09-10makedonia.jpg> 16:50
2001-09-10
ROMAN FOMIN: GREECE WANTS MACEDONIA TO CHANGE ITS NAME
The Government of Greece addressed to the executive bodies of the
European Union with a request to assist in solving the dispute with
Macedonia regarding the name of the country. The discussion how to call
the former Yugoslavian republic started back in 1991 - right after
Yugoslavia's collapse (within its previous borderline). The independent
state of Macedonia appeared on the frontier with the historic district
of Greece having the same name. Greece was OK with such a neighborhood
until the word Macedonia started being mentioned in the international
documents. But after 1991 the relations between 2 countries became
rather intense for the reason of the linguistic dispute.
By the way Macedonia has owned its name for hundreds of years. Macedonia
we know about from history text books was much bigger - the territory of
the country embraced the up-to-date Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria
and the north of Greece. The Slavs lived on the biggest part of
Macedonia in the 6th century of our times; a part of those people
separated themselves in the single Slavonian nation - the Macedonians.
Only in the beginning of the 20th century when the Turkey's power over
the entire Macedonia was broken, the region was divided between Serbia,
Bulgaria and Greece. Later the name of the Serbian southern province was
legalized within the framework of the administrative and territorial
division of Yugoslavia. Thus the state of Macedonia is situated right on
the territory which was bearing the same name during 2.5 thousand years.
In this situation the attempt to take the name away is absurd (both
Macedonia and Greece have equal rights on this name) and there is no
analogue to this anywhere in the world. It is enough to recollect that
the US and Mexico have their own Californias, that Ireland borders on
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that there is
peaceful neighborly relations in Africa between the Republic of Congo
and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nevertheless, the Greek Foreign
Minister George Papandreou addressed to the EU Secretary-General, the
EU's chief of foreign and security policy Javier Solana at the informal
meeting of EU Ministers in Belgium. The Greek Minister asked Solana to
interfere in the matter "with a view to solve the name issue quickly".
Greece chose a good moment for that request - NATO's troops are
stationed on the territory of Macedonia and the solution of the Albanian
conflict, Macedonia's future much depends on EU's position. In this
situation the Macedonians are not likely to take risks in case of the
negative outcome of the problem which is most probable, experts say.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Louis Michel promised assistance in the
linguistic conflict.
The EU's official documents register this small state in the Balkans as
"Former Yugoslavian republic of Macedonia". The question pertaining the
name of the country is supposed to be completely finished by September
of 2002. May be the Greek diplomats will win and the official papers
will have some other name instead of Macedonia next year. However the
Greek diplomacy can not give the answer to the Macedonians - what their
nation is going to be called thousands of years after.
Roman Fomin
PRAVDA.Ru
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2001/09/10/14746.html
AP Photo: Macedonian Parliament
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