THE GREEKS OF PONTOS

The region that is generally considered as Pontos roughly encompasses most of the eastern Black Sea coast of present day Turkey. Starting west of the city of Sinop and incorporating much of the ancient province of Paphlagonia; it continues eastward along the coast through Samsun, Giresun/Kerasounta, to reach the heart of Pontos at Trabzon in an area called Matsouka. From there the area stretches around the coast into Georgia ending at the border with ancient Colchis. The southern line extends eastern in the direction of, but not reaching Kars, past the Pontic Alps towards Bayburt, Tokat, Amasya and then curves up to the coast. The southwestern region borders Galatia, the former dominion of the Anatolian Celts who were centered around Ankara.

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