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Pontic

Pontus is a historical region along the southern coast of the Black Sea, in what is now northeastern Turkey. For centuries it was home to Greek communities who settled there from antiquity, blending Hellenic traditions with influences from Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule. The region was once part of the Kingdom of Pontus before becoming a province of the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire. Pontic Greeks developed a distinctive culture shaped by geography, history, and relative isolation in the Black Sea mountains. Music, particularly with the lyra (a three-stringed fiddle), oral poetry, and traditional dances such as the serra were central to their identity. Agriculture and fishing sustained communities, with hazelnuts, tobacco, and tea as staple crops. In the early 20th century, political upheaval and population exchanges between Greece and Turkey forced Pontic Greeks from their ancestral homeland. Many resettled in northern Greece, especially in Macedonia and Thrace, while others emigrated to Russia, Georgia, Germany, the United States, and Australia. Today, Pontic identity remains strong through festivals, associations, and cultural groups that preserve language, music, and traditions. Their resilience and cultural pride mirror themes often found in the Asterix stories, making the translations into Pontic especially meaningful for the community.

The Pontic Dialect (Ποντιακά, Pontiaká)

The Pontic dialect, known to its speakers as Ποντιακά (Pontiaká), belongs to the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is one of the Greek dialects that most directly preserves features of Ancient Greek, thanks to the relative isolation of Pontic communities in the Black Sea region. Pontic uses the standard Greek alphabet, but its phonology, vocabulary, and grammar are distinct from Standard Modern Greek. The dialect retains archaic elements such as the infinitive, long lost in most other Greek varieties, and it employs a complex verb system. Pronunciation differs significantly, with certain consonants and vowels reflecting older Greek sounds. Over centuries, Pontic also absorbed loanwords from Turkish, Persian, and Caucasian languages, reflecting its historical setting. For many speakers of Modern Greek, Pontic is difficult to understand without prior exposure, which gives it a special role as both a marker of identity and a link to the past. Although spoken today mainly by older generations, the dialect survives through music, theatre, and literature, and revitalization projects aim to pass it on to younger speakers.

Asterix in Pontic (Ποντιακά)

The world of Asterix has been brought into Pontic through three translated albums published by Mamouth Comix Ltd. These are:

These editions bring the humor, wordplay, and adventures of Asterix and Obelix into the rhythm and sound of Pontic Greek. They are not only enjoyable for readers but also serve as cultural treasures, helping preserve the dialect in print and giving younger generations of Pontic Greeks a chance to engage with their heritage through one of the world’s most beloved comic series.