Greek is an Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family. It is native to the territories that have had populations of Greeks since antiquity: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning at least 3,400 years of written records. Its writing system is the Greek alphabet, which has been used for approximately 2,800 years; previously, Greek was recorded in writing systems such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Also known as Greek language

Notable quotes

“So far has Athens left the rest of mankind behind in thought and expression that her pupils have become the teachers of the world, and she has made the name of Hellas distinctive no longer of race but of intellect, and the title of Hellene a badge of education rather than of common descent.”
— Isocrates, Panegyricus, 50.
“O Solon, Solon, Hellenes aei paides este, geron de Hellen ouk estin.”
— Translation: O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man among you.
“There have been only two great peoples: the Greeks and the Jews. Perhaps the Greeks were even greater than the Jews, but now I can see no sign of that old greatness in the modern Greeks. Maybe, when the present process is finished we too will degenerate, but I see no sign of degeneration at present.”
— David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister of Israel, Interview in Time, on August 16, 1948,
“Historical justice obliges me to state that of the enemies who took up positions against us, the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest courage. He capitulated only when further resistance had become impossible and useless.”
— Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, Speech to the Reichstag on May 4, 1941, after the Italian and German invasions of Greece
“I thank Your Majesty for your friendly message which comes at a time when all free peoples are deeply impressed by the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, Letter to King George of Greece on December 5, 1940, regarding the Greek victory in the Greco-Italian War

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Overview

Greek is an Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family. It is native to the territories that have had populations of Greeks since antiquity: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning at least 3,400 years of written records. Its writing system is the Greek alphabet, which has been used for approximately 2,800 years; previously, Greek was recorded in writing systems such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Greek is an Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family. It is native to the territories that have had populations of Greeks since antiquity: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning at least 3,400 years of written records. Its writing system is the Greek alphabet, which has been used for approximately 2,800 years; previously, Greek was recorded in writing systems such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary.

Country: Greece, Cyprus, Australia, Albania

Not who you're looking for? Others named Greek: American comedy-drama television series · play by Steven Berkoff · opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage

Notable quotes

“So far has Athens left the rest of mankind behind in thought and expression that her pupils have become the teachers of the world, and she has made the name of Hellas distinctive no longer of race but of intellect, and the title of Hellene a badge of education rather than of common descent.”
— Isocrates, Panegyricus, 50.
“O Solon, Solon, Hellenes aei paides este, geron de Hellen ouk estin.”
— Translation: O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man among you.
“There have been only two great peoples: the Greeks and the Jews. Perhaps the Greeks were even greater than the Jews, but now I can see no sign of that old greatness in the modern Greeks. Maybe, when the present process is finished we too will degenerate, but I see no sign of degeneration at present.”
— David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister of Israel, Interview in Time, on August 16, 1948,
“Historical justice obliges me to state that of the enemies who took up positions against us, the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest courage. He capitulated only when further resistance had become impossible and useless.”
— Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, Speech to the Reichstag on May 4, 1941, after the Italian and German invasions of Greece
“I thank Your Majesty for your friendly message which comes at a time when all free peoples are deeply impressed by the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, Letter to King George of Greece on December 5, 1940, regarding the Greek victory in the Greco-Italian War

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

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