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 Αλέξανδρος ο Μακεδών.” The ancient literary […]

  Some of the most usual fallacies used by FYROM’s hideous propaganda are the baseless assumptions included in the following statement: “The Greeks unanimously stereotyped the Macedonians as ‘barbarians’ and treated them in the same bigoted manner in which they treated all non-Greeks. After all, no Greek people/tribe was ever called “Barbarian“. This statement is most interesting for what it reveals about those supporting it. […]

  Polybius (ca. 203–120 BC) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his book called ‘The Histories’ covering in detail the period of 220–146 BC.   [1](Philip V of Macedon speaking)  For on many occasions when I and the other Greeks sent embassies to you begging you to remove from your statutes the law empowering you to get booty […]

The Hellenic Identity according to Jonathan Hall In the 4th century BC, the Athenian assembly debated whether to align with King Philip II of Macedonia, who had begun invading Greek city-states. Isocrates hoped to unite the bickering city-states and believed Philip could lead a war against longtime enemy Persia. Echoing Philip’s own argument, he contended that the Macedonian king in […]

Presentation  of ancient Greek tribes being segregated by the rest of Greeks In the cases of Athenians: “When the estrangement which had arisen between the Athenians and the Hellenes became noised abroad, there came to Athens ambassadors from the Persians and from the Hellenes. [Diodoros of Sicily 11.28.1]   “…the Hellenes gathered in congress decreed to make common cause with […]

One of the usual arguments being raised by the few supporters of the alleged non-Greekness of ancient Macedonians mention references by Isocrates in his letter to Philip II of Macedon. Specifically the usage by Isocrates of the phrases “Αλλόφυλον το Γένος”, “Ουχ Ομοφύλου γένους”. We are going to examine the validity of this argument and whether it constitutes an indication of non-greekness of Macedonia. […]

Editor, Archaeology Magazine 36-36 33rd Street Long Island City, NY 11106 U.S.A. Dear Sir,              I opened the January/February issue of Archaeology today and eagerly turned to “A Letter from Macedonia” only to discover that it was actually a letter from ancient Paionia – the land north of Mt. Barmous and Mt. Orbelos.  Livy’s account of the creation of the […]

In the years of Macedonian expansion under Philip II (359-336) BC the Athenian orator Demosthenes referred to Greece’s northern neighbors as “barbarians”, claiming that they had only recently ceased to be shepherds. Certainly the Thracians and Illyrians were non – Greek speakers, but in the northwest, the peoples of Molossis, Orestis and Lynkestis spoke west Greek and although they absorbed […]

The famous king (Βασιλεύς) of ancient Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great, Philip II was born in 383/82 BC. He was son of the king Amyntas III and queen Eurydice. His brothers were Alexander II, Perdiccas III and Eurynoe, while he had also 3 half brothers, the sons of Gygaea,  namely Menelaus, Arrhidaeus and Archelaus. [1] Early Life In 368 […]

A usual wordwide misconception is the association of the word ‘Barbarian’ with non-Greeks. We all know for starters Epirotes being classed as ‘barbarians’ from Thucydides, although they were greek-speakers. However the ultimate proof of Greek tribes being called ‘barbarians is coming from Athenaios Deipnosophistes where Stratonicus the harp-player was asked “πότερα Βοιωτοί βαρβαρώτεροι…ή θετταλοί, Ηλείους έφησεν” meaning “who were the […]