If a classical Greek wanted to say black he would have used the Greek word Mauros, which meant black! Alternatives word is melas, as I have stated in melanin (dark pigment), melatonin (dark hormone).

See: http://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1C1SKPC_enCA332CA337&gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=how+to+say+soot+in+greek#pq=translate+soot+to+greek&hl=en&cp=15&gs_id=w&xhr=t&q=translate+black+to+greek&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&rlz=1C1SKPC_enCA332CA337&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=translate+black+to+greek&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=391846ed1f786bcb&biw=1024&bih=677

Why would classical Greeks use a a metaphor to describe the “black” (i.e. Athiopia- burnt faces – black) skin of an African when they already have better words to describe black and dark, i.e. Mauros and Melas. Have you ever asked yourself that? Do you recall Othello the Maur? It means Othello the black! Maur means black in ancient classical Greek.

I hope that helped you.

Jahdey

Those that typically promote this sort of racist gibberish have a perception of identity that is obviously based on some quack pre-20th century eugenic concepts of national races. Modern genetics has blown away these ideas but unfortunately these myths remain mainstream.(even at supposed reputable news papers like the New York Times sadly)

Earth to your brains. An ethnic identity does not equal a race. Every nation and people are a genetic mix .”Greek’ is a cultural/linguistic affiliation much like “Jewish” or “Chinese” or “English” or “German”. (e.g. It was recently uncovered Hitlers DNA had recent inputs from regions traditionally non-Germanic)

While modern populations do show biological traces of past populations the fact is every generation, receives genetic inputs from other ethnic sources. Thus the only thing truly meaningful to identity is culture (especially language). The ancient Greeks were culturally affiliated with Hellenism. They were not Africans…. not Germas..not Slavic… not “insert some crackpot with a political agenda here”. As Aristotle said. A is A. A is not B.

If anyone claims to be the “real” Greeks… learn Greek, embrace Hellenic culture, and call yourselves Greeks. Otherwise you are about as Greek as an average Mexican is Mayan.

So what did you think, White people came from another planet?

The reason I post my credentials is to explain that I have an extensive knowledge of the aforementioned topics. I will not re-post here often but I feel as though this board has the potential to uncover some interesting facts, as such I will try and add to this interesting debate.

First and foremost before introducing anything new into this field. I want to address two members who have posted on these topics. Jahdney and Dave. It is clear that both of you are not in the pursuit of knowledge. You both answer the other with facts that do not get to the core of the issue. Furthermore, you rely on Strawman Logic, claiming relationships in etymologies that you have not studied or read. I advise the both of you to really read up on the areas that you are arguing.

Another important point to consider for the both of you. Do not use explicit numbers that cannot be verified. I will give two examples why the both of you really need to be careful of your claims because numbers can easily be verified. Jahdney you claim that Black-Africans were here 1 000 000 years prior to White-Europeans. Homo-Sapien dates back at the most too 600 000 years ago. Dave you clearly have copied and pasted scientific data that does not conclusively prove anything. In fact you both point to DNA statistics that are based on contemporary scientists who clearly have construed facts on modern DNA collection.

At any point, I will not deduce what I personally believe because I am interested in discussing ideas and truths. Unlike Dave and Jahdney I do not have an ulterior-motive. I advise all of you on this board to take what these two “Spin-Doctor’s” have to say. They will distort facts and statistics to serve their own personal motives.

The name of this region has been derived, through the Greek form, aithiopia, from the two words aitho, “I burn”, and ops, “face”.

……..

But a different origin is claimed for the name by many modern researchers, some of whom say that the Greeks borrowed the word from the Egyptians, and that as early as the Twelfth Dynasty the Egyptians knew the land under the name Ksh, or Kshi. One form of this word, with the aleph prefix, Ekoshi (the Coptic eshoosh, eshôsh, ethosh) would thus be the real root-word.

Others maintain that it is derived from the Arabic word atyab, the plural form of tib, which means “spices”, “perfumes” (Glaser, “Die Abissinier in Arabien und Afrika”, Munich, 1895), or from an Arabo-Sabean word, atyub, which has the same meaning. (Halévy in “Revue Sémitique”, IV.)

See Catholic Encyclopadia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05566a.htm

Like all half-educated albino wannabes you just made a fool of yourself.

“Aithi-ops”

According to you the root Greek word “Aithios” means “to burn, burning or fire-colour.” I accept that. Does “fire-colour” mean black to you?

The Greek word “Ops” means face.

Thus Aithios-ops could mean Fire-face, or burning face, or “to burn face”.

So you see how insufferably stupid you come across with your show of ignorance?

Mela means dark in Greek, like mela-nin, mela-nchros, melanpodes….

The Greeks called the ancient Kemitians Egyptians, “melanpode” or black-feet to indicate their black colour.

Mela is not the same as Aithos.

You get the drift….

Now go shack up with your fellow hilly-billies and smoke more meth…