Calamos Supports Greece

Greek Language

Did the Ancient Greeks See Blue Like We Do?

Linguists and experts in the ancient world have long been puzzled by the absence of a distinct word for the color in Ancient Greek.

Dionysios Solomos: The Greek Poet of Liberty

Dionysios Solomos, born on the island of Zakynthos in 1798, is rightly regarded as the National Poet of Greece for writing "Imnos eis tin Eleftherían," ("Hymn to Liberty"), the first two stanzas of which became the national anthem of...

Learning the Greek Language in China

More and more students in China are learning Greek as around 10 universities offer Greek programs for undergraduate studies. By Xu Yan “The gorgeous Greek letters and enchanting scenery in Santorini drive me to learn Greek,” said Zisong Wen, a sophomore...

‘Romeyka’ The Ancient Greek Dialect Spoken in Northern Turkey

Romeyka is a dialect of Greek spoken in the region of Trabzon (Trapezounta) and Pontus, around Turkey's Black Sea coast. Researchers say it bears striking resemblances to ancient Greek dialects. Its speakers are Muslims but many also trace their lineage...

Greek Language Day Celebrated in Naples, Italy

The Italian city of Naples commemorated International Greek Language Day with events to highlight the timeless contribution of Greek to world history. After a two-year lull due to the pandemic, philhellenes, academics and members of the Greek Italian community at...

Greek Language Through Poems Recited by Foreign Students

To celebrate Greek Language Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs created a video highlighting the Greek language’s endurance over the millennia. Young students of Greek from different parts of the world recite famous poems that marked Greek and world history. Poems...

Greek Language Day: Honoring The Mother of Western Languages

International Greek Language Day is celebrated annually every February 9, the day which also honors the memory of the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos, who wrote Greece's national anthem ''Hymn to Liberty.'' This celebration seeks to highlight the Greek language’s...

Speaking English Using Only Greek Words: Zolotas’ Historic Speech

Many Greeks recall the speeches in English — peppered with Greek-origin words and phrases — given by economist and politician Xenophon Zolotas in the late 1950s. Zolotas was director of the Bank of Greece when he appeared in front of...

Ancient Spartan Dialect Tsakonika Still Alive Despite Ravages of Time

Tsakonika, the language of ancient Sparta, still survives today, despite the ravages of time and the many reversals of fortune in Greece.

Countries With Names Derived From the Greek Language

Surprisingly, the names of countless countries around the world come from words found in the Greek language, attesting to the influence of Greek.