The concept of the genos/yenos (γένος) seems to be a very specific notion, which only exists in Greece, or at least is mostly prevalent there. Whenever our ancestors made sacrifices for our nation, they said they did it for our genos.
This word was especially used during the Greek war of independence by Kolokotronis, Rigas Pheraios and others.
From the context, one would assume the word is Greek for "nation". This is incorrect - the Greek word for nation is "ethnos". Instead, genos means race, but it is a more complicated than that. It means common ancestry, and can be used in all scales. For example: oikogenia (also latinized as Oikoyeneia/Ikoyenia, Οικογένεια) literally translates to "house-race" (Oikos = house), and it means "family", while genos itself can mean a whole racial group, or an extended family. Etymologically, the words gene, genetics, etc. are derived from this word.
This word and its usage show how ancestry still plays an important role in the Greek society. Indeed, Greece is one of the few European countries whose citizens believe that common ancestry is just as crucial to becoming a member of the nation, as other factors, such as culture and language. Of course, the people who actually believe that in the country are a minority, but still a lot when compared to other European nations that have been destroyed by degeneracy.
- "Us, the genos of the Rhomans[..]" -Chronicle of Morea, a 14th-century book, written by an unknown author. By "Rhomans/Romans/Rhomhaoi", the author is referring to the Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians of the Imperium Graecorum, the Greeks.
- "The genos of the Hellenes, if it has survived until today, [...] it owns it to a miracle."-Kazantzakis
- "The Hellenic genos could prevail if it were politically united."-Aristotle
This word was especially used during the Greek war of independence by Kolokotronis, Rigas Pheraios and others.
From the context, one would assume the word is Greek for "nation". This is incorrect - the Greek word for nation is "ethnos". Instead, genos means race, but it is a more complicated than that. It means common ancestry, and can be used in all scales. For example: oikogenia (also latinized as Oikoyeneia/Ikoyenia, Οικογένεια) literally translates to "house-race" (Oikos = house), and it means "family", while genos itself can mean a whole racial group, or an extended family. Etymologically, the words gene, genetics, etc. are derived from this word.
This word and its usage show how ancestry still plays an important role in the Greek society. Indeed, Greece is one of the few European countries whose citizens believe that common ancestry is just as crucial to becoming a member of the nation, as other factors, such as culture and language. Of course, the people who actually believe that in the country are a minority, but still a lot when compared to other European nations that have been destroyed by degeneracy.
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