Greeks in the United Kingdom
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
Greek-born residents 35,169 (2001 Census) 29,000 (2009 ONS estimate) Ethnic Greeks 400,000 (2008 estimate) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| British English, Greek |
The Greek community in the United Kingdom refers to British residents and citizens of full or partial Greek heritage, or Greeks who emigrated to and reside in the United Kingdom.
The Mycenaean civilization was an early Greek civilization flourished during the period between 1600 BC, when Helladic culture in mainland Greece was transformed under influences from Minoan Crete, and 1100 BC, when it perished with the collapse of Bronze-Age civilization in the eastern Mediterranean. Through trading and conquest, Mycenaean civilization spread its influence from Mycenae to many parts of the Mediterranean region and Europe. Mycenaean bronze double axes and other objects (Rillaton Barrow, Pelynt Dagger) dating from the thirteenth century BC have been found in Ireland and in Wessex and Cornwall in England, proving at least indirect Greek contact with Ireland and Great Britain at the time.
The first known Greek to come to Britain was Pytheas (Greek: Πυθέας). He reported its name as Prettanike and Brettaniai, for Britain and the British islands (nesoi), which became Britannia, it is assumed that its Hellenised version was under Diodorus. It may have been used by some of the local peoples where Pytheas landed to themselves -Pretani. Many Greeks later arrived with the Roman legions as soldiers and traders, and their presence is attested by inscriptions on curse tablets, gravestones and dedicatory tablets in both Greek and Latin displayed in the Museum of London and elsewhere, including:
A ALFID POMP OLVSSA EX TESTAMENTO HER POS ANNOR LXX NA ATHENVI H S EST
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