Post by Hellenas on Dec 21, 2011 20:35:47 GMT -5
Link: Aris Poulianos
Aegean Mediterranean islander Cretan Hellenes.
The Cretans and the Cretan women as a whole are above average height, as in most Aegean islands. They are, mainly, mesocephals, brunette with brown eyes and light mixed eyes. Predominantly black and wavy hairs prevail. The hair is quite developed in chest, in face and eyebrows, not less than from other islands of coastal Greece. They are basically leptoprosopoi(slim faced) and leptorrinikoi(slim nosed), with "strong" facial profile. The nose is in the absolute majority of cases straight, the lips moderate, the forehead upright, or slightly sloping. They distinguished by opisthocheilia(back-lipped), they have occiput quite round and slightly development of supra-orbital ridges. For this as a whole they constitute a relatively homogeneous group of anthropological varieties from end to end of the island. These attributes classify their type to the Aegean type of the southern branch of the Europeoid race.[/u]
"The descend of Cretans", page 107, year 1971.
1. Geographical distribution of anthropological traits in Crete shows largely uniformity across the island. The Cretans belong in their absolute majority to the Aegean type of the eastmediterranean branch of the great Europeoid race. The spread of this type in the Aegean associated with the prosoasiatic type from which it has diversified over several thousand years. It is native type of the region and, as can be concluded by the expansion of current features in the past, associated with at least the Upper Paleolithic era.
2. The varieties that make up the anthropological type of Crete stand out, with great enough accuracy, from the anthropological types of northern Africa and, secondly, the types of the Middle East. They are closer to the type of the Aegean basin, generally, which extends to Thrace and Southern Bulgaria, in western Asia Minor and parts of the Black Sea.
3. Movements of peoples in prehistoric and historic period did not bring significant changes in the morphological features of the Cretans and the differences we observe in some parts of Crete, are coatings on the original type of the island.
"The descend of Cretans", page 127, year 1971.
The coloration of the skin:
In skin, women are whiter than men. Indeed, in the very white coloration(Nu 7 on von Luschan scale) the percentage is double than of men. In plain white (Nu 9-Nu 11) is nearly the same: 86 and 90% respectively. In the dark (Nu 12), men overmatch with 7% instead of 5% for women.
"The descend of Cretans", page 62, year 1971.
The eye color:
For the accurate determination of eye color we used the twelve stair scale of Bunak, as we did in the previous works. This is the most modern and gains ground daily in the studies of Anthropologists. The 43%, therefore, of men and 55% of women have dark eyes. That is, that, as a whole, about half of the population of Crete has dark brown eyes. The 50% of men and 41% of women have "mixed" color, that is: brown-green, gray-blue with yellow crown. The remaining 6.7% of men and 3,1% of women have blue eyes. The Cretan women, therefore, generally have darker eyes than men. From the researches we have done 'till now we found that no population group of Greece has such a high index of clear blue eyes as the Cretans (almost 7%). Even the Greeks of Marioupolis, which closely resemble the Greeks of western Asia Minor, did not pass the 6%. As a whole, therefore, Cretans are a little lighter than the other Greeks.
"The descend of Cretans", page 51, year 1971.
Aegean Mediterranen mainland Hellenes.
This type is the taller from all groups in Greece we had to our disposal. Has much dark color(of hairs and eyes) and smooth to wavy hair. Chest hair growth is moderate. Beard growth rather strong. Compared with other types of Greece presents the greater hair growth. In relation to the types of Proso-Asia and continental Greece, the Aegean type is placed in an intermediate relationship, particularly with regard to color and shape of the hair, the growth of beard and chest hair. The shape of the nose is straight and the position of the peak of nose is horizontally slanted upward. Also this type distinguished by a slightly sloping forehead. The shape of the nose, the slope of the forehead, and all the diameters of the head brings the Aegean type very close to the population of the Peloponnese. This is especially true for islands. The coloration as noted is quite dark: the percentage of mixed colors of the iris does not exceed the 40%, darkbrown hair does not exceed the 30% and the skin is pale. On a Pan-Hellenic/nationwide scale occupies the middle position. Within this type can be distinguished some varieties, which morphologically very few can distinguished from each other, but which are characteristical for each geographical location. The first variety holds the northern part of central Greece and can be named as Thessalian. The second, in the south, as Roumelian. The first variety characterized by greater leptoprosopia(slim face) and leptorrinia(slim nose), pale color and hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). It seems to be a variant of the varieties in central Greece that all together compose the Aegean type. For the group of Western Asia Minor also, we can say that is very close to the Aegean type. Compared with the rest group of Proso-Asia, this group has lighter coloration, less brachycephaly, straighter nose shape, less hair growth. This group interrupt the continuity of the type of Proso-Asia, that someone would expect to meet spreading westward. The second variety, the Roumelian, is the most brachycephalic and has a larger diameter of zygomatics(cheekbones). Perhaps the differences between these two varieties are the result of influence (not of great admixture) of the Northwest or of the Continental type in the Roumelian variety. Very close, from the anthropological point of view, to the varieties of central Greece is the South-Greek variety that can be named Peloponnesian. The characteristics of features of the Peloponnesian variety compared to the Aegean type with the varieties of central Greece is that it has a higher stature, straighter noses and more hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). This group is pretty mixed and is very similar to the Thracian variety particularly in the northwestern part of Asia Minor, though small in number, differs by the Proso-Asiatic type and so included in the variety group of the Aegean basin. The material available allows us to formulate the view that the influence of the Thracian variety on the population of Asia Minor is much greater than the influence from western Asia Minor to Thrace. Therefore it can be concluded that the interaction of Proso-Asia and of Greece has happen more through the Aegean islands than through Thrace. Future detailed investigations in this area will help us to determine more explicitly, especially for the area of Western Asia Minor. In the Aegean type-with the broad sense of the word-we include also the two groups of Greek Marioupolis (ie both the Greek-speaking and the Tatarofones) even if is quite mixed. The Thracian variety has generally black iris. But there is large percentage of mixed colors (no more than 30% dark-brown hairs). Hair form smooth or wavy. The growth of hair on the chest is less than mediocre. Development of beard over moderate. Unlike the Epirotic/Continental type, the Thracian variety is more mesokefaliki(mesocephalic) and more leptoprosopi(slim faced) than all types of the southeastern branch of the European race. The shape of the nose is straight or curved. But women often have a pug nose. The peak position of the nose is horizontal or inclined upwards in both men and women. The slope of the forehead is almost vertical. Rating overhang of fins and thickness of lips moderate, but somewhat larger than the kentroelladikes(centralgreek) varieties and somewhat smaller than the Epirotic/Continental type. Apart from Thrace, the Thracian variety lies in eastern Macedonia(Greek), Eastern Thrace, in western Asia Minor, partly on the islands of the Aegean and apparently to the north, the southern and eastern provinces of Bulgaria. The Thracian variety is very similar to the kentroelladiki(centralgreek) and especially with the variety of Thessaly. It is situated between the Epirotic/Continental type and the Proso-Asiatic type. It's completely different from the first, while the difference with the second is relatively less. It can be even considered that is the southeastern variety of "Pontic" type described by Bunak V.V. 1946.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 120-131, year 2001.
Epirotic Alpine-Mediterranean-Dinaroid Hellene.
The coloration of the Epirotic/Continental type is a little more light than in the Aegean type. The growth of hair in chest is weak, the weakest of all groups in Greece. The beard shows moderate growth. A characteristic of this type is hypervrachykefalia(hyper-brachycephaly), probably the largest across Europe wth cephalic index 88. Almost one in two representatives of this type has wide occipital. The face width (diameter of zygomatics/ cheekbones) is the largest in Greece. The shape of the nose is curved and rarely straight. The thickness of the lips more than mediocre. The slope of the forehead almost vertical. The stature, in Helladic level, is high. The effect of this type outside Epiros is particularly perceptible in western Macedonia, and to a lesser degree in central Greece and western Peloponnesos, but also beyond the borders of Greece. The Epirotic/ Continental type extends along the whole of Pindos and in Agrafa. We could even call him as "Pindic", but we would limited its geographical area only in Greece, while the term "Epirotic" in the sense of "Continental" embraces a large part of the European continent. Is a primeval type in our area and native obviously. It is difficult at this stage of our knowledge to say who's the oldest, the Aegean or the Epirotic. The most likely is that the two main types in Greece have a common origin from the time of Archanthropos(Archaic-Man), who later differentiated slowly and was adapted to the new climatic conditions. The difference perhaps lies in the fact that the Aegean has evolved at a faster pace. While the Epirotic maintained more his premeval features, as seen even to the Mesolithic man of Frachthi. In this type are owned and Sarakatsani, who later moved east and south. Especially the Sarakatsani of Bulgaria, now isolated approximately for more than 170 years, maintaining mesokefalia(mesocephaly) and not hypervrachykefalia(hyper-brachycephaly) that modern Epirotics present. Mesokefalia(mesocephaly) is of course an older trait which misled remarkable Balkan colleagues to consider them of Mediterranean origin. The thorough examination of all traits though does not leave any doubt that they belong to Continentals (A. N. Poulianos 1993).
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 131-135, year 2001.
West-Macedonian Hellenes of north pindos
It's the lighter type in Greece. The percentage of black eyes is almost equal to that of mixed. Skin color is quite light. Predominantly dark brown hairs prevail. Format of hair more smooth. Face thin or moderate. This type presents hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). Hair growth in chest below the average. Growth of beard above the average. The shape of the nose in most cases is straight, the position of the edge more slanted upward. The nose is quite slim and not high compared to the Helladic scale. This type is widespread throughout western Macedonia and as a point on northern Thessaly and eastern Epiros. Particularly compact however occurs in Voio-Grevena region on both slopes of the mountains of Northern Pindos. The same type is represented largely and among the Vlachophones of western Macedonia and of Thessaly, who also, are known to originate from western Macedonia. The main representative of this variety are the Kapatsareans of Grevena. In a smaller extent also represented among the Slavophones of northwestern Macedonia, but where the Epirotic type mostly prevails. As the anthropological data show, this type formed as a result of crossing over on a substrate of the Aegean and of the Epirotic type, the area of western Macedonia may be regarded as their "contact zone". It should also be said concerning the origin of this type, that we do not exclude the case that we have to do with "local depigmentation" of the native element still in the Upper Palaeolithic period or even earlier. Indications are too many, only need further processing to confirm and gather more particularly paleoanthropological data. Nor of course can be excluded the possibility of the coming, of a northerly, regarding Greece, item, like a coat over the substrate of the two basic types.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 136-139, year 2001.
All Macedonian Hellenes.
Based on the two basic types of Greece the Macedonian variety was formed. This variety also has in general dark color (of hair and iris). But at this variety meet quite often mixed shades of iris and darkbrown hairs. The shape of the hair is smooth or slightly wavy. Growth of hair on the chest below the average. Growth of beard above the average. Shape of nose straight and also low. The absolute measurements of the head and face put it in an intermediate position between neighboring varieties. This variety has a mixed ancestry. In eastern Macedonia prevails the Thracian variety. In western and central Macedonia, the Epirotic/Continental type. In southern Macedonia the Central Helladic variety. There are no strict boundaries in the transition from one type to another or from one variety to another. For this we mentioned the Macedonian variety basically to the Aegean type, with proportionate effects of the Epirotic/Continental type to the west. When we take into account the historical and ethnographic data we can consider that the Macedonian variety has a compound origin and came from the crossing of Thracian, Pelasgian and Illyrian elements. We meet this variety not only to the Hellenophones but also to Slavophones and the Vlachophones. The procedures for crossing and interpenetration of different anthropological types and varieties have contributed to the elimination of borders between them. However, the components of their racial traits are not eliminated completely. Perhaps, to a certain extent, contributed to this the historical fate of some regions of Macedonia. As is known in this region created some language groups. The difference of language kept to a certain degree in isolation each group by the other, especially in the Middle Ages. William Z. Ripley believed that Macedonia could not be studied anthropologically (Ripley W., 1900). However, the method of geographical racial analysis gave us satisfactorily results and we now have quite a clear picture on the anthropology of Macedonia.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 135-136, year 2001.
Proto-Europeoid Sarakatsanes Hellenes of Pindos.
Link: SARAKATSANI - THE MOST ANCIENT PEOPLE OF EUROPE
Link: Sarakatsani folklore museum
Rare types/Minorities:
Proso-Asiatic west Asia Minor type(a physical dark skinned example).
Link: Most Asia Minor Hellenes are south-east Europeans and look like that
"The 90% of the persons we studied have WHITE SKIN COLOR. Rarely someone meets dark skin color and even more rarely very dark skin color. Very light skin color is met more often than dark skin color."
"The origin of the Greeks", page 69, year 2001.
Above we opposed the Helladic group types and varieties to the prosoasiatic and underlined that they differ so much as to be considered correct the division of the Balkanocaucasian race in two wards. The main differences between them are: The Prosoasiatic type has darker shades, especially in hair and skin. Also the shape of hair is more wavy. The final hair is more developed (both beard and chest hair). The shape of the nose is more curved, the bases of the diaphragm and of fins as well as the peak of the nose is very obliquely downwards. In Prosoasiatic type included the Greeks of Trapezounta and Erzerum, Georgians and to a small degree the Greeks of Marioupolis and of western Asia Minor. Inside this type are distinguished the following varieties:
a) To the people who live round from the Caucasus Mountains the hair is very developed (both of breast and of beard), the shape of the nose is more curved, the width of face much larger, the color relatively lighter, lips thinner. This variety is less brachycephalic in the Prosoasiatic scale. It may be named "the main Caucasian variety". This is the variety where Georgians belong.
b) The second variety may be named "main Prosoasiatic". Although very similar to the first, the characteristic traits are manifested with less intensity. The forehead is more straight, the bases of the diaphragm and fins of the nose much more oblique downward. This variety is more brachycefalic from the previous one. In this variety the Greeks of Trapezounta and to a lesser degree Georgians belong.
c) The third variety, the "Eastern/Anatolian" is located south of the previous two. The main features are: thicker lips, darker in general coloration, less curved shape of the nose, shorter stature, greater opisthometopia(sloping forehead). In this variety the Turkophones Greeks of Erzurum belong and obviously
in a small percentage the southern and the western groups of Asia Minor.
Despite their differences, the three varieties above have many common features to be considered properly their inclusion in a common Prosoasiatic type, with square sense. This common type showed a strong tendency to lean towards the Mediterranean sea. Correct also is the name "Caucasomediterranean type" which is mentioned several times in the bibliography so to be dilated by the "Balkanomediterranean type".
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 139-142, year 2001.
Northern Thracian type(a physical blond example).
The Northern-European effect occurs with the following characteristics: Very light color (from gray eyes to blue) combined with an oblique upward shape of the nose (the cartilaginous part is flat and the tip is obliquely upwards). The face is thin. Presents hypovrachykefalia(sub-brahycephaly). The growth of hair ranges from weak to moderate. The form of hair smooth and sometimes wavy. Lips thin. This combination features in essence agrees with all the descriptions that have been made for the Northern type. But this type is very rare in Greece and its percentage does not exceed 4-7% even in the lighter groups of northern Greece, such as the Hellenophone West Makedonians, Vlahophones, Slavophones and the Sfakians of Crete.
The Central-European influence has light pigmentation (skin color lighter than of the Greeks, assorted colors of iris, brown hair color or even more lighter). Forehead straight. Presents vrahycephali(brachycephaly) and sometimes hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly) very mediocre zygomatic/cheekbone width (leptoprosopiko/thin-faced index) and moderate hair growth. The shape of the nose varies considerably. The coloring is quite light to medium. The supporters of the theory that in Europe there are three races, often call it Alpine type. For this type G.F. Debets, made the hypothesis/assumption that not only created as a result of crossing, but that is part of the trunk of the European Race which do not reached the degree of depigmentation which we observe in the northern regions of Europe (G.F. Debets, 1958). This type is found more often in Greece than the Northern, but does not exceed 20-30% of certain groups. Often confused with other intermediate types that live in the triangle of north Thessaly, western Macedonia, east Epirus and that have arisen:
1) From the long time crossing, as already mentioned, of the Aegean and Epirotic type.
2) The local depigmentation.
3) The possible admixture with northern racial elements.
Many times they give to this type the name "Noric" to dilate it by the "Nordic" which means Northern (G.F. Debets, 1958). This name appears more successful regarding southern Europe, because it shows the direction from north- at least regarding Greece-, without indicating direct descent from the northern regions of Europe. For us, "Alpine" type itself does not exist. We believe what other Anthropologists name Alpine is the Epirotic/Continental depigmented in different stages and in various widths and lengths of Europe.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 142-144, year 2001.
Note: Most of Hellenes belong to the Aegean Mediterranean type and to the Epirotic Alpine type, or to a combination of these two types, Mediterranean-Alpine, the rest racial types form minorities or are rare.
Link: Slavophones in Hellas
Aegean Mediterranean islander Cretan Hellenes.
The Cretans and the Cretan women as a whole are above average height, as in most Aegean islands. They are, mainly, mesocephals, brunette with brown eyes and light mixed eyes. Predominantly black and wavy hairs prevail. The hair is quite developed in chest, in face and eyebrows, not less than from other islands of coastal Greece. They are basically leptoprosopoi(slim faced) and leptorrinikoi(slim nosed), with "strong" facial profile. The nose is in the absolute majority of cases straight, the lips moderate, the forehead upright, or slightly sloping. They distinguished by opisthocheilia(back-lipped), they have occiput quite round and slightly development of supra-orbital ridges. For this as a whole they constitute a relatively homogeneous group of anthropological varieties from end to end of the island. These attributes classify their type to the Aegean type of the southern branch of the Europeoid race.[/u]
"The descend of Cretans", page 107, year 1971.
1. Geographical distribution of anthropological traits in Crete shows largely uniformity across the island. The Cretans belong in their absolute majority to the Aegean type of the eastmediterranean branch of the great Europeoid race. The spread of this type in the Aegean associated with the prosoasiatic type from which it has diversified over several thousand years. It is native type of the region and, as can be concluded by the expansion of current features in the past, associated with at least the Upper Paleolithic era.
2. The varieties that make up the anthropological type of Crete stand out, with great enough accuracy, from the anthropological types of northern Africa and, secondly, the types of the Middle East. They are closer to the type of the Aegean basin, generally, which extends to Thrace and Southern Bulgaria, in western Asia Minor and parts of the Black Sea.
3. Movements of peoples in prehistoric and historic period did not bring significant changes in the morphological features of the Cretans and the differences we observe in some parts of Crete, are coatings on the original type of the island.
"The descend of Cretans", page 127, year 1971.
The coloration of the skin:
In skin, women are whiter than men. Indeed, in the very white coloration(Nu 7 on von Luschan scale) the percentage is double than of men. In plain white (Nu 9-Nu 11) is nearly the same: 86 and 90% respectively. In the dark (Nu 12), men overmatch with 7% instead of 5% for women.
"The descend of Cretans", page 62, year 1971.
The eye color:
For the accurate determination of eye color we used the twelve stair scale of Bunak, as we did in the previous works. This is the most modern and gains ground daily in the studies of Anthropologists. The 43%, therefore, of men and 55% of women have dark eyes. That is, that, as a whole, about half of the population of Crete has dark brown eyes. The 50% of men and 41% of women have "mixed" color, that is: brown-green, gray-blue with yellow crown. The remaining 6.7% of men and 3,1% of women have blue eyes. The Cretan women, therefore, generally have darker eyes than men. From the researches we have done 'till now we found that no population group of Greece has such a high index of clear blue eyes as the Cretans (almost 7%). Even the Greeks of Marioupolis, which closely resemble the Greeks of western Asia Minor, did not pass the 6%. As a whole, therefore, Cretans are a little lighter than the other Greeks.
"The descend of Cretans", page 51, year 1971.
Aegean Mediterranen mainland Hellenes.
This type is the taller from all groups in Greece we had to our disposal. Has much dark color(of hairs and eyes) and smooth to wavy hair. Chest hair growth is moderate. Beard growth rather strong. Compared with other types of Greece presents the greater hair growth. In relation to the types of Proso-Asia and continental Greece, the Aegean type is placed in an intermediate relationship, particularly with regard to color and shape of the hair, the growth of beard and chest hair. The shape of the nose is straight and the position of the peak of nose is horizontally slanted upward. Also this type distinguished by a slightly sloping forehead. The shape of the nose, the slope of the forehead, and all the diameters of the head brings the Aegean type very close to the population of the Peloponnese. This is especially true for islands. The coloration as noted is quite dark: the percentage of mixed colors of the iris does not exceed the 40%, darkbrown hair does not exceed the 30% and the skin is pale. On a Pan-Hellenic/nationwide scale occupies the middle position. Within this type can be distinguished some varieties, which morphologically very few can distinguished from each other, but which are characteristical for each geographical location. The first variety holds the northern part of central Greece and can be named as Thessalian. The second, in the south, as Roumelian. The first variety characterized by greater leptoprosopia(slim face) and leptorrinia(slim nose), pale color and hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). It seems to be a variant of the varieties in central Greece that all together compose the Aegean type. For the group of Western Asia Minor also, we can say that is very close to the Aegean type. Compared with the rest group of Proso-Asia, this group has lighter coloration, less brachycephaly, straighter nose shape, less hair growth. This group interrupt the continuity of the type of Proso-Asia, that someone would expect to meet spreading westward. The second variety, the Roumelian, is the most brachycephalic and has a larger diameter of zygomatics(cheekbones). Perhaps the differences between these two varieties are the result of influence (not of great admixture) of the Northwest or of the Continental type in the Roumelian variety. Very close, from the anthropological point of view, to the varieties of central Greece is the South-Greek variety that can be named Peloponnesian. The characteristics of features of the Peloponnesian variety compared to the Aegean type with the varieties of central Greece is that it has a higher stature, straighter noses and more hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). This group is pretty mixed and is very similar to the Thracian variety particularly in the northwestern part of Asia Minor, though small in number, differs by the Proso-Asiatic type and so included in the variety group of the Aegean basin. The material available allows us to formulate the view that the influence of the Thracian variety on the population of Asia Minor is much greater than the influence from western Asia Minor to Thrace. Therefore it can be concluded that the interaction of Proso-Asia and of Greece has happen more through the Aegean islands than through Thrace. Future detailed investigations in this area will help us to determine more explicitly, especially for the area of Western Asia Minor. In the Aegean type-with the broad sense of the word-we include also the two groups of Greek Marioupolis (ie both the Greek-speaking and the Tatarofones) even if is quite mixed. The Thracian variety has generally black iris. But there is large percentage of mixed colors (no more than 30% dark-brown hairs). Hair form smooth or wavy. The growth of hair on the chest is less than mediocre. Development of beard over moderate. Unlike the Epirotic/Continental type, the Thracian variety is more mesokefaliki(mesocephalic) and more leptoprosopi(slim faced) than all types of the southeastern branch of the European race. The shape of the nose is straight or curved. But women often have a pug nose. The peak position of the nose is horizontal or inclined upwards in both men and women. The slope of the forehead is almost vertical. Rating overhang of fins and thickness of lips moderate, but somewhat larger than the kentroelladikes(centralgreek) varieties and somewhat smaller than the Epirotic/Continental type. Apart from Thrace, the Thracian variety lies in eastern Macedonia(Greek), Eastern Thrace, in western Asia Minor, partly on the islands of the Aegean and apparently to the north, the southern and eastern provinces of Bulgaria. The Thracian variety is very similar to the kentroelladiki(centralgreek) and especially with the variety of Thessaly. It is situated between the Epirotic/Continental type and the Proso-Asiatic type. It's completely different from the first, while the difference with the second is relatively less. It can be even considered that is the southeastern variety of "Pontic" type described by Bunak V.V. 1946.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 120-131, year 2001.
Epirotic Alpine-Mediterranean-Dinaroid Hellene.
The coloration of the Epirotic/Continental type is a little more light than in the Aegean type. The growth of hair in chest is weak, the weakest of all groups in Greece. The beard shows moderate growth. A characteristic of this type is hypervrachykefalia(hyper-brachycephaly), probably the largest across Europe wth cephalic index 88. Almost one in two representatives of this type has wide occipital. The face width (diameter of zygomatics/ cheekbones) is the largest in Greece. The shape of the nose is curved and rarely straight. The thickness of the lips more than mediocre. The slope of the forehead almost vertical. The stature, in Helladic level, is high. The effect of this type outside Epiros is particularly perceptible in western Macedonia, and to a lesser degree in central Greece and western Peloponnesos, but also beyond the borders of Greece. The Epirotic/ Continental type extends along the whole of Pindos and in Agrafa. We could even call him as "Pindic", but we would limited its geographical area only in Greece, while the term "Epirotic" in the sense of "Continental" embraces a large part of the European continent. Is a primeval type in our area and native obviously. It is difficult at this stage of our knowledge to say who's the oldest, the Aegean or the Epirotic. The most likely is that the two main types in Greece have a common origin from the time of Archanthropos(Archaic-Man), who later differentiated slowly and was adapted to the new climatic conditions. The difference perhaps lies in the fact that the Aegean has evolved at a faster pace. While the Epirotic maintained more his premeval features, as seen even to the Mesolithic man of Frachthi. In this type are owned and Sarakatsani, who later moved east and south. Especially the Sarakatsani of Bulgaria, now isolated approximately for more than 170 years, maintaining mesokefalia(mesocephaly) and not hypervrachykefalia(hyper-brachycephaly) that modern Epirotics present. Mesokefalia(mesocephaly) is of course an older trait which misled remarkable Balkan colleagues to consider them of Mediterranean origin. The thorough examination of all traits though does not leave any doubt that they belong to Continentals (A. N. Poulianos 1993).
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 131-135, year 2001.
West-Macedonian Hellenes of north pindos
It's the lighter type in Greece. The percentage of black eyes is almost equal to that of mixed. Skin color is quite light. Predominantly dark brown hairs prevail. Format of hair more smooth. Face thin or moderate. This type presents hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly). Hair growth in chest below the average. Growth of beard above the average. The shape of the nose in most cases is straight, the position of the edge more slanted upward. The nose is quite slim and not high compared to the Helladic scale. This type is widespread throughout western Macedonia and as a point on northern Thessaly and eastern Epiros. Particularly compact however occurs in Voio-Grevena region on both slopes of the mountains of Northern Pindos. The same type is represented largely and among the Vlachophones of western Macedonia and of Thessaly, who also, are known to originate from western Macedonia. The main representative of this variety are the Kapatsareans of Grevena. In a smaller extent also represented among the Slavophones of northwestern Macedonia, but where the Epirotic type mostly prevails. As the anthropological data show, this type formed as a result of crossing over on a substrate of the Aegean and of the Epirotic type, the area of western Macedonia may be regarded as their "contact zone". It should also be said concerning the origin of this type, that we do not exclude the case that we have to do with "local depigmentation" of the native element still in the Upper Palaeolithic period or even earlier. Indications are too many, only need further processing to confirm and gather more particularly paleoanthropological data. Nor of course can be excluded the possibility of the coming, of a northerly, regarding Greece, item, like a coat over the substrate of the two basic types.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 136-139, year 2001.
All Macedonian Hellenes.
Based on the two basic types of Greece the Macedonian variety was formed. This variety also has in general dark color (of hair and iris). But at this variety meet quite often mixed shades of iris and darkbrown hairs. The shape of the hair is smooth or slightly wavy. Growth of hair on the chest below the average. Growth of beard above the average. Shape of nose straight and also low. The absolute measurements of the head and face put it in an intermediate position between neighboring varieties. This variety has a mixed ancestry. In eastern Macedonia prevails the Thracian variety. In western and central Macedonia, the Epirotic/Continental type. In southern Macedonia the Central Helladic variety. There are no strict boundaries in the transition from one type to another or from one variety to another. For this we mentioned the Macedonian variety basically to the Aegean type, with proportionate effects of the Epirotic/Continental type to the west. When we take into account the historical and ethnographic data we can consider that the Macedonian variety has a compound origin and came from the crossing of Thracian, Pelasgian and Illyrian elements. We meet this variety not only to the Hellenophones but also to Slavophones and the Vlachophones. The procedures for crossing and interpenetration of different anthropological types and varieties have contributed to the elimination of borders between them. However, the components of their racial traits are not eliminated completely. Perhaps, to a certain extent, contributed to this the historical fate of some regions of Macedonia. As is known in this region created some language groups. The difference of language kept to a certain degree in isolation each group by the other, especially in the Middle Ages. William Z. Ripley believed that Macedonia could not be studied anthropologically (Ripley W., 1900). However, the method of geographical racial analysis gave us satisfactorily results and we now have quite a clear picture on the anthropology of Macedonia.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 135-136, year 2001.
Proto-Europeoid Sarakatsanes Hellenes of Pindos.
Link: SARAKATSANI - THE MOST ANCIENT PEOPLE OF EUROPE
Link: Sarakatsani folklore museum
Rare types/Minorities:
Proso-Asiatic west Asia Minor type(a physical dark skinned example).
Link: Most Asia Minor Hellenes are south-east Europeans and look like that
"The 90% of the persons we studied have WHITE SKIN COLOR. Rarely someone meets dark skin color and even more rarely very dark skin color. Very light skin color is met more often than dark skin color."
"The origin of the Greeks", page 69, year 2001.
Above we opposed the Helladic group types and varieties to the prosoasiatic and underlined that they differ so much as to be considered correct the division of the Balkanocaucasian race in two wards. The main differences between them are: The Prosoasiatic type has darker shades, especially in hair and skin. Also the shape of hair is more wavy. The final hair is more developed (both beard and chest hair). The shape of the nose is more curved, the bases of the diaphragm and of fins as well as the peak of the nose is very obliquely downwards. In Prosoasiatic type included the Greeks of Trapezounta and Erzerum, Georgians and to a small degree the Greeks of Marioupolis and of western Asia Minor. Inside this type are distinguished the following varieties:
a) To the people who live round from the Caucasus Mountains the hair is very developed (both of breast and of beard), the shape of the nose is more curved, the width of face much larger, the color relatively lighter, lips thinner. This variety is less brachycephalic in the Prosoasiatic scale. It may be named "the main Caucasian variety". This is the variety where Georgians belong.
b) The second variety may be named "main Prosoasiatic". Although very similar to the first, the characteristic traits are manifested with less intensity. The forehead is more straight, the bases of the diaphragm and fins of the nose much more oblique downward. This variety is more brachycefalic from the previous one. In this variety the Greeks of Trapezounta and to a lesser degree Georgians belong.
c) The third variety, the "Eastern/Anatolian" is located south of the previous two. The main features are: thicker lips, darker in general coloration, less curved shape of the nose, shorter stature, greater opisthometopia(sloping forehead). In this variety the Turkophones Greeks of Erzurum belong and obviously
in a small percentage the southern and the western groups of Asia Minor.
Despite their differences, the three varieties above have many common features to be considered properly their inclusion in a common Prosoasiatic type, with square sense. This common type showed a strong tendency to lean towards the Mediterranean sea. Correct also is the name "Caucasomediterranean type" which is mentioned several times in the bibliography so to be dilated by the "Balkanomediterranean type".
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 139-142, year 2001.
Northern Thracian type(a physical blond example).
The Northern-European effect occurs with the following characteristics: Very light color (from gray eyes to blue) combined with an oblique upward shape of the nose (the cartilaginous part is flat and the tip is obliquely upwards). The face is thin. Presents hypovrachykefalia(sub-brahycephaly). The growth of hair ranges from weak to moderate. The form of hair smooth and sometimes wavy. Lips thin. This combination features in essence agrees with all the descriptions that have been made for the Northern type. But this type is very rare in Greece and its percentage does not exceed 4-7% even in the lighter groups of northern Greece, such as the Hellenophone West Makedonians, Vlahophones, Slavophones and the Sfakians of Crete.
The Central-European influence has light pigmentation (skin color lighter than of the Greeks, assorted colors of iris, brown hair color or even more lighter). Forehead straight. Presents vrahycephali(brachycephaly) and sometimes hypovrachykefalia(sub-brachycephaly) very mediocre zygomatic/cheekbone width (leptoprosopiko/thin-faced index) and moderate hair growth. The shape of the nose varies considerably. The coloring is quite light to medium. The supporters of the theory that in Europe there are three races, often call it Alpine type. For this type G.F. Debets, made the hypothesis/assumption that not only created as a result of crossing, but that is part of the trunk of the European Race which do not reached the degree of depigmentation which we observe in the northern regions of Europe (G.F. Debets, 1958). This type is found more often in Greece than the Northern, but does not exceed 20-30% of certain groups. Often confused with other intermediate types that live in the triangle of north Thessaly, western Macedonia, east Epirus and that have arisen:
1) From the long time crossing, as already mentioned, of the Aegean and Epirotic type.
2) The local depigmentation.
3) The possible admixture with northern racial elements.
Many times they give to this type the name "Noric" to dilate it by the "Nordic" which means Northern (G.F. Debets, 1958). This name appears more successful regarding southern Europe, because it shows the direction from north- at least regarding Greece-, without indicating direct descent from the northern regions of Europe. For us, "Alpine" type itself does not exist. We believe what other Anthropologists name Alpine is the Epirotic/Continental depigmented in different stages and in various widths and lengths of Europe.
"The origin of the Greeks", pages 142-144, year 2001.
Note: Most of Hellenes belong to the Aegean Mediterranean type and to the Epirotic Alpine type, or to a combination of these two types, Mediterranean-Alpine, the rest racial types form minorities or are rare.
Link: Slavophones in Hellas