There is an uncertainty about the use in the Balkans of the concept expressed in Turkish by the word “Kıpti”, meant to describe the Coptic community as one of Egypt’s ancient native populations, but often used in the daily life and in historical texts to describe the Roma people. Do Roma and Copts constitute the same community? If this is not the case, what do they have in common and what are the essential space differences between them? Such questions have mostly been ignored. Although an Egyptian identity may seem at first sight very distant to the Balkan peninsula, the relation to Egypt is not a mere coincidence. In spite of seeming unrelated to the Balkan peninsula due to its distance and geocultural differences, it is clear that Egypt has a serious connection with the Balkans. This connection is evident in the word “Coptic”, known in Turkish as “Kıpti” and pronounced differently in various Balkan countries. A nation known as Egyptian lives in the Balkans and this paper constitutes an effort to explain through the actual situation of the community, as well as through the remained onomastic data, the origin of this nation and the historical adventure of its arriving to this geographical area. Undoubtedly, in the early researches, the data about the relation of Egyptians with the Balkan peninsula are unclear and confusing. In most cases they have been intertwined with the Roma community, resulting in a situation that makes it difficult to discern between them. However, if taking in consideration the areas where this community is settled in terms of physical and human geography criteria, adding the onomastic data considering examples of different nations in the world, it is possible to make an attempt to provide an opinion about the communidy called “Egyptians” with respect to the analysis of otheir place and origin. The community in question has been examined also in respect of the place they live, the way in which they are named in different languages, as well as their self-naming. In addition, it has been aimed to expand the examination scope of the subject and to provide a more comprehensive view by emphasizing the relevance of physical geography for the Egyptian community, which manifests in most places a character of loyalty to the land, as well as its similarity with the Roma society. Beside the Egypt relationship and Egyptian identity, the Roma migrations from Egypt have also been mentioned. Finally, this paper presents a general evaluation on logical, historical and spatial dimensions beyond ethnic judgments, which includes mentioning of the extent to which the living space of this community and their current activity on the area overlaps with the ancient and old written works, as well as the definition of relationship between present-day generation and the traces inherited from the past.
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | June 26, 2020 |
Submission Date | April 6, 2020 |
Acceptance Date | May 23, 2020 |
Published in Issue | Year 2020 Volume: 3 Issue: 5 |