People with common "african" phenotypical characteristics often appeared in greek artworks, possibly demonstrating a somewhat sizable population of tropical africans in the context of ancient greece. There is genetic evidence that seems to go along with this as greeks have been shown to be outliers in the european context; and closer to ethiopia via Arnaiz Villena et al African origin of the Greeks. But overall in the phenotypical sense they fall into the rest of the mediteranean.
It is interesting, to note modern-day phenotypical appearances among greeks as in ancient times. I've stumbled onto a greek model site (subject matter is somewhat mature though not sleezy), and one model named aphrodite
Not sure if she is a "full-blooded" greek in the sense that both her parents are of greek origin. But being as she is profiled on a site dedicated entirely to greek women and with a greek name, its very interesting. She also appears to have green eyes, which is also interesting.
Are there any other examples anyone else knows of?
Posted by alTakruri (Member # 10195) on :
Careful. Because a woman's on that site doesn't mean she's Greek. Take Tsheila Oksanen in the Greek celebrities section for instance. She's not Greek but a Congolese Finnish mulatta.
Posted by Mmmkay (Member # 10013) on :
^ Understood. Again I was'nt quite clear, but it seemed an example of a modern day "phenotypical throwback" for lack of better terminology. Though ofcourse she could have been just a mixed-heritage working model in europe who decided to model for a greek site. Theres alot of possibilities but the thought is fascinating. Especially considering the apparent relatively common appearance of african personalities in the greek art record.
