Contrary to popular beliefs emanating from FYROM, the ancient Macedonians are not identified as <barbarians> and more importantly, they always distinguish themselves from the <barbarians>.  For example, Alexander I in his famous speech at Plataia (Her. IX.45) differentiates himself from the <barbarians> by stating: "εθέλων υμίν δηλώσαι την διάνοιαν την Μαρδονίου, ίνα μή επιπέσωσι υμίν εξαίφνης οι βάρβαροι[..] ειμί δε ...

Nationalists from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M) and her diaspora allege that there is a cultural, linguistic and genealogical continuity between the ancient Macedonians and the "modern Macedonian" nation. Until the recent past these claims were usually confined to radical nationalists circles in F.Y.R.O.M and her diaspora. With Gruevski's administration now leading F.Y.R.O.M ...