Misthi

[In Greek Μισθεία, Μισθί; Μιστί; Μισθή; Μυστή; Μισθίον; Μίσθια, in English Mysty; Misli; Misti, in Turkish Mišti, Misti, Muštilia, Konaklı (current name)]

Introduction

«’Απ’ Μιστί ’μι, νά πάμ’ σ’ Μιστί»

Misthi [Mistí] was a Greek city in the region of Cappadocia (Turkey). It was situated 82 kilometres southwest of the regional capital of Caesarea [Gr. Καισάρεια], nowadays Kayseri, Turkey, and belonged administratively to the nearby city of Nigde [Gr. Νίγδη], [Tr. Niĝde], 26 kilometres north-northwest and at an altitude of 1380 metre above sea level.

Aerial photo of Misthi / Konaklı today.

Origins

There exist a plethora of explanation as to the origins and establishment of the city as well as to the etymology of its name. For instance, according to Koimisoglou (2005:434) some sources trace the origin of Misthi to the year of 401 BC when Greek mercenaries came to work for the Persian king Cyrus in the battle against his brother Artaxerxes II. A group of his soldiers was given the order to search for food and water. Among them was a group of Greek soldiers that found an uninhabited area and settled down. Allegedly, they built a city there that became Misthi. This version of the city’s creation, although interesting, has not yet become verified. According to Anastasiades (1995:16), the city was built by Greek mercenaries that were part of Alexander the Great’s army. Rizos (1856:99-100), on the other hand, claims that the inhabitants of Misthi were originally from the Greek islands of Delos, Lemnos and Naxos while Carolides argues that the inhabitants of Misthi were simply Greeks from the lower port cities that came to Misthi to work as paid-labour farmers. Koimisoglou also provides an explanation to the etymology of the city name. The Ancient Greek word for mercenary is Μίσθιος (Místhios) (sing.) and Μίσθιοι (Místhii) and in Modern Greek Μισθοφόροι (Misthofóri) or Μισθωτοί (Misthotí). Thus the name of the city was a reflection of the inhabitants' original occupation. However, this is also a non-verified explanation. As it happens, the connotation of the word ‘Misthii’, although originally meaning mercenary, transformed during Byzantine times to mean labour-work, i.e. paid labour. Thus some authors have been inclined to suggest that the name refers to the skilled church builders of the city who often travelled far and took part in the constructing of churches.

The city was inhabited purily by Greeks practicing the orthodox religion and wrongfully described as being turcophonic (speakers of the Turkish language). At closer scrutiny however, the Greek dialect spoken, also referred to as Misthiotica, was a dialect based on ancient Greek drawing heavily on Byzantine Greek and with a major influx of turkish load words. Misthiotica (still spoken today) is a unique dialect (language) belonging to the group of Greek Cappadocian lanugages. Misthiotica was a consequence of the isolation of the inhabitants from that of other Greek cities and villages. Misthiotica was, however, also spoken by inhabitants of the nearby villages of Tsaricli (Kaisareclea?), Dila (Dilion), Tseltek and Cavaclou due to the fact that the villages was founded by Misthiotes.

During the population exchange in 1924 following the Lausanne agreement of 1923 between Greece and Turkey, Misthi was inhabited by almost 4400 souls. Today, Misthiotes are to be found in the following places in Greece:

• Ξηροχώρι Xerochori [in the Misthiotica dialect: Gördana] (Salonica, [[Prefecture of Macedonia]])
  
• Νέο Αγιονέρι Neo Agioneri [in the Misthiotica dialect: Várlantza] (Kilkis, Prefecture of Macedonia)
  
• Μάνδρα Mandra Larissis [in the Misthiotica dialect: Thomai] (Larissa, Prefecture of Thessaly)
  
• Αμυγδαλέα Amygdalea (Larissa, Prefecture of Thessaly)
  
• Νεοχώρι Neochori (Evros, Prefecture of Thrace)
  
• Κόνιτσα Conitsa (Ioannena, Prefecture of Epirus)
  
• Ξάνθη Xanthe (Xanthi, Prefecture of Thrace)
  
• Διπόταμο Dipotamo (Kavala, Prefecture of Thrace)
  
• Κομνηνά Comnena (Kozani, Prefecture of Macedonia)
  

Konaklı - Misthi today

The city of Misthi is today inhabited by about 4000 turkish citizens originating from the population exchange of 1924 between Greece and Turkey. The inhabitants are mostly decendants of turks born in Salonica (Gr. Thessaloniki, Tr. Selanik) and in the Kozani region at the turn of the last century. Decentants of the current inhabitants of the city came to Misthi while the Misthiotes had not yet left the city. When the Greeks population left the city the name changed from Misthi to Misly. Today, the city is known as Konaklı.

Culture

Γαβούστημα (Annual Panhellenic Meeting

By the end of the 1990s the organizing committees of the decendants from the cities of Misthi and the towns of Tsaricli, Dela (Dilion), Tseltek and Cavaclou agreed for a first Annual Panhellenic Meeting in Mandra, Larissa (Greece). These meetings have since then been arranged at different locations in Greece where Misthiotes (and those related to them) settled down. In reality, the Annual Panhellenic Meeting is a cultural festival with activities ranging from art, music and dance exhibitions, academic lectures (often concerning history), gastronomical tours as well as book exposition. This event has proven highly successful in many respects and has attracted more than 3000 every year. In many cases, families have found relatives they did not exist which has resulted in the illumination of their ancestry. The Gavoustema has also ment the ressurection of the Misthiotic culture which to many, especially to the youngest generations, has been completely unknown. As a result, the Gavoustema has spurred several individuals to engage in layman investigations or professional academic research about the history, culture and language of the Misthiotes.

The Gavoustema has been hosted by the following cities:

• 1997 Mandra, Larissa (August)
  
• 1998 Xanthi (August)
  
• 1999 Conitsa, Ioannena (August)
  
• 2000 Kokkinochoma, Kavala (August)
  
• 2001 Ano Mavrolofo, Magnesia (17-19 August)
  
• 2002 Xerochori, Salonica (23-24 August)
  
• 2003 Neo Agioneri, Kilkis (22-24 August)
  
• 2004 Alexandroupolis (6-8 August)
  
• 2005 Mandra, Larissa (19-21 August)
  
• 2006 Kavala (August). Guest lecture will be given by prominent professor of Linguistics and Classics Mark Janse who has focused his research on Cappadocian Greek dialects. Visit Professor Mark Janse's homepage.)
  
  

Farming tools and their names in the Misthiotica dialect.

Misthiotica dialect

The Misthiotica dialect belongs to the Greek-Cappadocian bransch of Hellenic languages and is believed to be based on Byzantine Greek with archaic features preserved as well as a plethora of loanwords from the Turkish language. Some examples of this dialect are:

Misthiotica	Latinized	Greek	Meaning	Remarks
Nouns
Νέκα	Néca	Γυναίκα	Woman
Τύρα	Tíra	Θύρα	Door	From ancient and Byzantine Greek. Θ->T
Λερό	Leró	Νερό	Water	Ν->Λ (N->L)
Λαλάτζα	Lalándza	Λουκουμάδες	Greek style dougnuts made of fried dessert dough	From Byzantine Lallangia (Λαλλάγγια) (Fried bread, cf. Lallangita)>Hellenistic Lallangi>Archaic Greek Laganon (wide but thin pita-like bread made with herbs and sesami seeds on it) [a predecessor to the current well-known pizza]
Κρομμό	Crommó	Κρεμμύδι	Onion
Φ'σάχ	Fschách	Παιδί	Child
Πισίκα	Pischíca	Πιτσιρίκα (Κορίτσι)	Fem. child	From Byzantine pitsiricon>N. Italic piccër (small)+Byzantine ίκο (ico).
Παλκάρ	Palcár	Παλικάρι	Mask. child	A brave person (mask). From Byzantine pallecarion (young follower of soldiers)> Hellenistic pallicarion> derived from pallak (follower)+arion (young)> Archaic Greek (attic) pallax (πάλλαξ).

Misthiotic gastronomy

• Cultural indicators of the inhabitants' ancient/Byzantine origin
  
• The language (Misthiotica) (archaic elements/Byzantine elements)
  
• Retained names used by the Misthiotes of older settlements, i.e. the nearby villages Nasrados (Tr. Ulağaç, [Ulagatsch], Nakroin (Tr. Kıçağaç, [Kitschagatsch]), the nearby sites Parapedissos, Nedissos, Maskados, Apsala.
  
• The design of their garments and footwear had a Byzantine origin (differing from the surrounding Turkish)
  
• Seasonal games took place in Misthi originating in ancient times such as wrestling, the Vara-Vara dance and polo on horseback (a 'sport'dating back to Alexandrian times and to the interaction of that army with people they met in today's Afghanistan)
  
• Marriage: The dressing of the groom calls to mind the robings of the Bishop which derived from Byzantium
  
• A dying individual (often referred to men) was obliged to provide death duties in order to receive forgiveness and gain admission to Hades.
  
• There was a general belief, originating from Byzantine times, that the soul of a man was taken by the Archangel Michael using his sword. For this reason all water was thrown out of the house as the Archangel had washed his sword in it (bad omen to use the water).
  
• In accordance to ancient traditions, the stars and planets were consulted to give the propitious time to leave for work or travel. The moon and the sun were personified as brothers traveling in the sky, the one in daytime and the other at night. Their eclipse caused anxiety to men, and they tried, with they magic means to relieve these two heavenly bodies from the demon that had seiged them, this being the explanation of an eclipse.
  
• Misthiotes believed that earthquakes were caused by the movement of the world from one bull's horn to the other - because they believed that the world rested upon the horns of a bull. Magic ceremonies for instance accompanied the litany for the invocation of rain. These beliefs date back not only to Byzantine times but to ancient times as well.
  

Names of the inhabitants

Below is a comprehensive list of names used by the inhabitants (Characopoulos, 2003). The first column shows the Greek name followed by the Turkish and the English equivalents.

Misthiotic male names

Misthiotic Αβεργάμης Αζαρίας Αλέκος Αλέξης Ανανίας Αναστάσης Ανέστης Αντρής Αντρίκος Αντών (ης) Απόστιλης Αχανάς Βασίλ Βενέτης Βετσή Βλάσης Γαβραήλ Γαραλέμης ή Χαραλέμης Γιάκωβος ή Γιακώφ Γιορντάνης Γιοφχάν (ης) ή Χιοφχάν (ης) Γεσήφης Γιωβάννης Γιωνάς Γουργόρης Γούτος Γιώρ ή Γιωρίκας Ερεμίας Κλήμιντης Κωσταΐνης ή Κωσταής Λάζαρης Λευτέρης Λεωνίδας Μακάριος Μανόλης Μελέτης Μεργκούλης Μάρκος Μηνάς Μουσαήλης Μουϋσής Μουχάλ ή Μουχαήλ Μπο(υ)ντής Νικόλας Νταμιανές ή Νταμιανής Νταναήλ Ντηρμήτ (ης) Παναϊώτ Παντελές Παραής Παυλής Πετρής Πρόιμο ή Ποπότσης Ροφαήλ Σάββας Σπύρης Σταυρής Συμοχός Τζηγλόρης ή Τζηλγόρης Τόγωρης Τσερεκάς ή Τσερετσής Τρύβιντης Τσύριλλης Φιλ΄ππους Φτύμ Χαρίτας Χεγοντός Χιμιάνες Χρυστόστομα Χρίστης ή Χούτος

Transcription Averyámis Azarías Alécos Aléxis Ananías Anastásis Anéstis Andrís Andrícos Andón(is) Apóstilis Achanásch Vaschíl Venétis Betschís Vláschis Yavraíl Yarelémis and Charelémis Iácovos and Iacóf Iordánis Yiofchán(is) and Chiofchán(is) Yeschífis Yiovánnis Yonás Yuryóris Yútos Yiór and Yioríca Eremías Clémindis Costaínis and Costaís Lázaris Leftéris Leonídas Makários Manólis Melétis Mergúlis Márcos Minás Musaílis Muisís Muchál and Muchaíl Bo(i)dís Nicólas Damianés and Damianís Danaíl Dirmít(is) Panayiót Pandelés Paraís Pavlís Petrís Próimo and Popótsis Rofaíl Sávvas Spirís Stavrís Schimochós Tziylóris and Tzilyóris Tóyoris Tscherecás and Tscheretschís Trivídis Tschírilis Fílpus Ftím Charítas Cheyodósch Chimianés Christostóma Chrstístis and Chútos

English Abraham Azarias Alex Alex Ananias Anastasius Anestes Andrew - Anthony Apostolus Achanias Basil Benett Joachim Basil Gabriel Charalampus Jacob Jordan Theophanes Joseph John Jonas Gregory Chrysostomus George Jeremy Clemence Constantine Lazarus Elefterius Leonidas Macarius Emanuel Meletus Mercury, Mercurius Marcus Menas Michael Moses Michael Prodromus Nicholas Damian Daniel Demetre Panayiot Pandeles Parascevius Paul Peter Primo, Prodromus Raphael Sebastian Spiritus Staurus Simonn Gregory Theodore Kiriakos or Sal(vatore) (Latin) Tryphon Cyril Philip Eutheme Charitas Theodosius Damian Chrysostomus Chris, Christian

Modern Greek Averyámis

Compare with Greek-Cappadocian names from the Old Testament

GREEK Αβραάμ [Avraám] Ανανίας [Ananías] Δανιήλ [Daniíl] Δαυίδ [Davídh] Δαυίδα [Davídha] Ελισάβετ [Elisávet] Ζαχαρίας [Zacharías] Ηλίας [Elías] Ιερεμίας [Ieremías] Ιωσήφ [Iosíf] Μωυσής [Moisís] Ναούμ [Naúm] Ραχήλ [Rachíl] Ρεβέκκα [Revéca] Σαμουήλ [Samuíl] Σολομών [Solomón] Σουσάννα ή Σουζάννα Susánna or Suzánna

TURKISH Avram Anania Danil Tavid Tavida Elish or Elisho Zahari Ilias - Yusuf Moyisa Naum Irahil Reveca Samuil Schlom or Scholom Susa and Sona

ENGLISH Abraham Anania Daniel David - Elizabeth Zachary Elias Jeremy Joseph Moses Naum Rachel Rebecca Samuel Solomon Susanna or Suzanna

Did you know?

• That the international academic community of linguists considered Misthiotica and other Greek-Cappadocian languages as dead languages until recently when researchers "discovered" speakers of the language in Greece last year?
  
• Did you know that many Misthiotes left Misthi to establish themselves as traders in the United States of America and in Russia?
  
• Do you know that many of the surnames of Misthiotes of today are of Turkish origin often with a derogatory meaning given by the Turkish port authorities in Mersina when the Misthiotes were registered for embarkment to Pireus? For instance, Sismanides - sisman meaning fat, or most commonly Delioglou - meaning the idiot's son. Only few of the first generation Misthiotes in Greece understood the meaning of their surnames and manage to change them.
  
• Do you know that many of the second generation of the Misthiotes from Greece emigrated during the late 1960s from Greece to northern European countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Sweden but also to Australia and the US?
  
  

Resources on Misthi and Cappadocia

References

Greek

• Κοιμίσογλου, Συμεών Κ., (2005), Καππαδοκία: Μνημείο Παγκόσμιας Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς, Ελλήνων Ιστορία, Πίστη, Πολιτισμός, Θεσσαλονίκη:ILP Productions)
  
• Κωστάκη, Θανάση Π., (1977), Το Μιστί της Καππαδοκίας, Αθήνα: Ακαδημία Αθηνών.
  
• Σπυρώνη, Σταυρου Ι., (1996), Τι Δεν Είναι Ελληνικό Στην Ελληνική Γλώσσα: Τα Τουύρκικα στη Γλώσσα που μιλάμε Λεξικογραφημένα με 7.000 περίπου ελληνικά επώνημα τουρκικής καταγωγής, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Τάκη Μιχαλά.
  
• Χαρακόπουλος, Μάξιμος, (2003), Ρωμιοί της Καππαδοκίας: Από τα βάθη της Ανατολής στο Θεσσαλικό κάμπο - Η τραυματική ενσωμάτωση στη μητέρα πατρίδα, Αθήνα, Ελληνικά Γράμματα.
  

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