Ancient Thrace and Hellenized Thrace

[HellenicPride]

That is one issue that always left me dumfounded the history of the Thracians. Although I must admit I am no historian or expert but from articles I have read in the past it does seem that the Thracians were greek. Im really going to start to look into this subject.

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

This one has confused me too. I did, or perhaps should say, do think they were not originally Greek, but were Hellenized. There seems to be some conflicting evidence, but at this point, I will say, the original Thracians were not Hellenes, but were Hellenized during ancient times, so they did become Greek. However, I just don't know for sure.

[Mygdonia]

Originally Posted by PhiliptheUniterchaeronea

This one has confused me too. I did, or perhaps should say, do think they were not originally Greek, but were Hellenized. There seems to be some conflicting evidence, but at this point, I will say, the original Thracians were not Hellenes, but were Hellenized during ancient times, so they did become Greek. However, I just don't know for sure.

Latest research according to the link provided above.

In particular this link "The Roots of Thracians" http://alex.eled.duth.gr/Eldoseis/ko...s/02katagw.htm

States the following:

Thracians, Phrygians, Trojans, Illyrians, Macedonians and Greeks all belong to the Pelasgian root.

Futhermore, the "Aryan" IndoGerman root belongs to Indians, Persians, Phrygians, Armenians, Pelasgians, Thracians, Illyrians, Greeks, Latins, Celts, Germans and Slavs.

So according to this quote

Άλλ' ανεξαρτήτως της εκ των Πελασγών καταγωγής τών Θρακών είνε γεγονός αναμφισβήτητον, ότι οί Θράκες κατά την νεολιθικήν εποχήν (2200 —4000 π. Χ.) συνώδευσαν τους Πελασγούς εις τα ενδότερα της Ελλάδος με χαρακτήρα αμφοτέρων εκπολιτιστικόν και όχι επιδρομικόν ή ληστρικόν.

Thracians were Pelasgian in the neolithic era.

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

So is it possible they were early Hellenic, then non Hellenized, then re-Hellenized? Oh boy, this may be toatl BS, or totally true. THanks for all the info guys, keep it coming. Please pardon my ignorance on the topic, I feel quite lost when it comes to Thrace. Macedonia and Epiros, not a problem, but Thrake, I need help. hahaha

[akritas]

An intresting quote that given from Xenophon into Anabasis

Upon hearing these words Seuthes said that he should not distrust any one who was an Athenian; for he knew, he said, that the Athenians were kinsmen of his, and he believed they were loyal friends.
[Xenophon, Anabasis,VII,2,31]

According to tradition, through the marriage of the ThracianTereuswith Procne, daughter of the Athenian king Pandion.As you see there was a close connection between the Thracians and Athenians.

[HellenicPride]

So its safe to say that Thracians is a touchy subject with out enough information to determine exactly if they were Hellenes or not? That is what it seems.

[paniskos]

in the macedonia highlands under the hellenic sky

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

Welcome to the forum Paniskos. Thanks for the information. You helped clarify things.

As for the Pelasgian origins, I know little of it although I have heard of it. Interesting if we were all sprung from the same tribes and developed from there, if there is any truth to that. Maybe that is what Mygdonia was getting at in some form.

I do want to learn more on this as it is very interesting. For now I will assume the ancient Thracians were not Greek and then they were Hellenized.

[paniskos]

in the macedonia highlands under the hellenic sky

[olvios]

Still a great number of them were hellenized making western & eastern thrace a densely populated by greeks area.North thrace and above werent hellenized by the greek element as those southern but as Rigas Feraios said once you you speak Greek up to the Dunabe.