Pontische

Pontische is an adjective derived from Pontus, the historic region along the southern shore of the Black Sea, corresponding to parts of present-day northeastern Turkey. In scholarly and cultural use, Pontische describes things connected with the Pontic region, including its geography, peoples, languages, and material culture.

The term is closely associated with Pontic Greek, a branch of the Greek language spoken by the Pontic Greeks who historically inhabited the Pontus area. Pontic Greek includes several dialects, such as Northern Pontic and Southern Pontic, and shows influences from Turkish and other regional languages. After large-scale population movements in the 20th century, Pontic Greek survives primarily in diaspora communities.

Historically, Pontus emerged as a Persian satrapy and later became the core of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Pontus, established by rulers such as Mithridates VI. The region comprised coastal cities along the Black Sea and played a notable role in ancient trade and military campaigns. In late antiquity, Greek-speaking communities and early Christian centers developed in Pontus, and the area remained culturally diverse through the Byzantine period and into Ottoman times.

In modern usage, Pontische appears in Germanic or Dutch contexts to denote things pertaining to Pontus, while in English and other languages the terms Pontic or Pontic Greek are more common. The concept also informs discussions of Pontic culture, including its cuisine, music, and architectural heritage tied to the Pontic Greek community and the broader Black Sea littoral.