HOW GREEK AM I?

What do we know about our genealogy?

Sometime ago I did a DNA test and the results left me speechless. 

In my recent book,  "A TIMELESS PRESENCE-Evolution of Language and Writing in the Hellenic Peninsula",  I make mention of the importance of knowing our roots and our tribe's path in History. I found it necessary to examine my own roots in an effort to throw light on a  common held belief  that the history of my Family has roots on another country other than Greece. So let's start at the beginning:  

My seed was planted a year after the Great earthquake of 1953 that destroyed the town of Zakynthos in the idealic island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante ( Italian name given during  two Italian occupations. According to Google AI:  period A) a medieval period under the County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos (1185-1479) and B) during WWII (1941-1943). 

It was after the devastating earthquake when my mother was sent to the island by the Greek government as a Social Worker to assist  with helping the local population that she met and fell in love with my Zakynthian father thus uniting the Blood and Culture of Zakynthos and Crete, two historic islands of Greece.

After spending my first 14 years in the island and another 6 in the Capital Athens I found myself in Scotland's Glasgow married to a local girl. It was then that I decided to have my DNA test done. The result was very revealing and a testament of the resilience of the Human race.

 It turns out I'm 55% Italian 45& Greek! So it IS true. My family did originate in Italy! 

This is what my Genealogy map looks like:

So, what does it all mean?

The largest, by far, share of my DNA  is the 55% Italian influence which I attribute to Ancient ancestry form Greek colonies in South Italy  (Magna Grecia), or maybe my father's ancestry was Italian settlers on the Island.

My 26% share is of the Greek mainland and Albanian influence (Ancient Illyria). 

Surprisingly the influence of the Aegean islands, homeland and birthplace of my mother  is only 16%.

As for the 3% influence of Central Europe, I attribute this to Ancient DNA from the origins of the first settlers in the Hellenic Peninsula and the later Slavic mixtures.

So there you have it. You think you know your origins? 

Think again.