poniós

Poniós (Greek: Πόνιος) is a Greek demonym referring to a native or inhabitant of Pontus, the historic region on the southern coast of the Black Sea. The term is commonly used to denote Pontic Greeks, the Greek-speaking community historically associated with Pontus and connected with the Pontic Greek dialects.

Geographically, Pontus covered parts of what is today northeastern Turkey. The region has ancient Greek settlements and was incorporated into the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. Over centuries, Pontic Greek communities developed distinct linguistic and cultural traits, including a variant of the Greek language and traditional music and dances.

Historical events in the late Ottoman period and the early 20th century led to displacement of Pontic Greeks and large-scale emigration. After the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, many Pontians resettled in Greece and established diaspora communities in Europe, the Caucasus, and elsewhere. In Greece, Pontic culture continues through churches, associations, festivals, and media, while the Pontic Greek dialect survives in some communities and is the focus of revival efforts.

Today, Poniós identity remains a core aspect of Pontic Greek heritage, with ongoing scholarship, cultural preservation, and community organizations. See also Pontus, Pontic Greek, Pontian diaspora.