Icaria - Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Groups

Ikarian Greeks
Έλληνες της Ικαρίας
Total population
c. 8000–15,000 worldwide
Regions with significant populations
The islands of Ikaria, Thimena and Fournoi in Greece, also in Athens. The diaspora can be found in Australia, USA, Canada and United Kingdom
Languages

Predominantly Modern Greek and local dialects (see Culture_of_Greece#Dialects). Also the languages of their respective countries of residence.

Religion

Greek Orthodox Christianity and atheism

The Ikarians (also spelled Icarians), also known as Ikarian Greeks (Greek: Ικαριότες – Ikariótes ) are an ethnically Greek group whose ancestry consists of Pelasgian and Carian settlers, as well as Greek settlers from Miletus and Samos. Historically, Ikaria has been under the control of Polycrates' Sea Empire, the Second Athenian League, the Roman province of Asia, the Byzantine Empire, the Republic of Genoa, the Knights of Saint John and the Ottoman Empire before becoming an independent people on the 17th of July, 1917. Later that year they became part of Greece. Nowadays, Ikarians are found throughout Greece, specifically on the islands of Thimena and Fournoi Korseon, as well as in Athens, where a large community is found. The Ikarian diaspora can be found throughout the world, mainly in Australia, USA, Canada and United Kingdom. Ikarians have a large population of atheists and communists, much more than any other Greek ethnic group.

Ikarian Greeks are closely related to other Aegean island Greeks, such as Greeks from Samos, Chios, Fournoi Korseon and Patmos, as well as Greeks from Asia Minor.

Ikaria is also home to many Greeks of Cretan ancestry.

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