Greeks in Lebanon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 4,500 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Beirut (Greater Beirut), Tripoli | |
| Languages | |
| Arabic, Neo-Aramaic, Greek | |
| Religion | |
| Antiochian Orthodox Church, Islam |
| Part of a series on |
| Greeks |
|---|
 |
|
History of Greece (Ancient · Byzantine · Ottoman) |
The Greeks in Lebanon (οι Έλληνες στο Λίβανο) had presence in present day Lebanon that dated to ancient history, and the Phoenicians and Greeks (both maritime peoples) shared close ties. The Greek alphabet, for example, is derived from the Phoenician one. The Greek presence is attested by several place names, and the close ties between Greeks and the Lebanese Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities.
In ancient times Lebanon was the site of several Greek colonies. Following Christianization Greek culture remained a strong influence, waning as the centuries passed, though not disappearing. The city of Amioun (possibly from the word for Greeks, Yunan), capital of the Koura District (in turn from the Greek χωριά, "villages") in the north of the country is a living testament of that. Following the 2006 invasion of Lebanon by Israel most Greeks have fled the country, although there remains a Greek community in Beirut (Greater Beirut)[1] as well as in the aforementioned Koura District.
