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Revision as of 00:58, 2 July 2012 by TheSaprani (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Leucosyri also known as White Syrians.
Leucosyri are an ancient tribe that existed in Anatolia until 200 AD. By then they were became hellenised. The name "Leucosyri" derived from the Greek name Λεύκοσυροι meaning White Syrians. Possible theories of the origins of the Leucosyri is that they may have been related or and ofshoot of the Persians who also inhabit Anatolia as the same time as the Greeks. Whether they are a subgroup of the Persians or some form of relation, it been believed by most scholars and people that the Leucosyri are of Iranian origin with possible mixed Anatolian blood.
It been believed that the Leucosyri lived in Pontus, Cappadocia, Cilicia and parts of central-west Asia Minor.
The Leucosyri of Pontus mainly lived in the mountainous highland of Pontus near Armenia Minor with considerable amount living in the interior of Pontus (the coastal area). During the reign of the Kingdom of Pontus, they may have been one of the Iranians of Pontus mainland and Taurica (another traditional area with a large population of Pontic Greeks), to have contribute to Pontus' Iranian influence of the Pontic population. Since the end of the Pontic rule and Roman takeover and occupation, the remaining Leucosyri assimilated into the Pontic Greek population.
The Leucosyri have also lived in Cappadocia amongst the Greeks, Persians, Armenians, tribal Colchians and other Anatolian tribes and groups such as the Galatians. Like the Leucosyri of Pontus, the remaining Leucosyri assimilated into the Cappadocian Greek population.
It have never been clear of the background of the Leucosyri as in history had mention them a few times. The religion have never been clear of what deities the Leucosyri worshipped. By judging the ethnicity of the Leucosyri and the area they haved live in, they may have worshipped Iranian and Anatolian gods and goddesses such as Cybele and Sun God Men (God). They could have also worhipped Greek deities and the cults as they were slowly hellenised. Apollo is one example of a Greek god worshipped as Sun Gods are popular throughout Anatolia. It is then known that throughout the late Roman Empire as they been hellenised s well as being introduced to Christianity whether some were willing and others were subjects to persucution due to pagan faith.
Overall, the Leucosyri were one of the Anatolian ancestors of the Pontic Greeks, Cappadocian Greeks and the rest of the Greek Anatolians of Asia Minor, all which have possible mixed Greek/Anatolian/Iranian blood as of today.
See also