“The DNA of North Macedonians Revealed – Their Connection to Ancient Macedonians” (video)
“Alexander the Great lived in a Greek world, with Greek names, the worship of the 12 gods—he was Greek to his core. To say he was born in Skopje is as ignorant as claiming Shakespeare was born in Belarus.”
—Robin Lane Fox, Professor of Ancient History, University of Oxford
The unfounded, historically inaccurate, and ultimately absurd propaganda of our neighboring nation, aimed against our heritage, is easily debunked through common sense. However, as it seems, even after the signing of the largely ineffective Prespa Agreement—which primarily benefits the “thief” rather than historical truth—the so-called “Macedonian issue” will continue to concern us and influence the fragile geopolitical situations in the Balkans.
The quest for a “glorious” historical heritage has become an obsession for the Slavic population that settled in the southern Balkans, including some northern territories of the ancient Macedonian kingdom, approximately 1,000 years after Alexander the Great’s death.
As is well known, science and its advancements often become “enemies” of falsehood and propaganda. In this case, we are not talking about history but genetics, a field that has made significant progress in recent years and offers crucial answers.
In a recent lecture, Konstantinos Triantaphyllidis, Emeritus Professor of Genetics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, presented the findings of studies on the genetic composition of both the neighboring and Greek populations. The results align with expectations.
The DNA of North Macedonians – Their Connection to Ancient Macedonians is as Expected
In an interview with Newsbomb Triantaphyllidis explained that multiple genetic studies by scientists from various countries consistently show that the inhabitants of North Macedonia and Bulgaria—who belong to the same or similar ethnic group—share DNA with the Slavs of Central and Eastern Europe.
Specifically, the genetic composition of North Macedonians closely resembles that of Bulgarians, followed by Serbians. In other words, they share Slavic roots, with no significant genetic ties to Greeks.
North Macedonia is a multi-ethnic state with diverse ethnicities and religions. The largest ethnic group (58.5% according to the 2021 census, down from 64% in the previous census) is Slavic. The population includes 24.3% Albanians, 3.9% Turks, 2.5% Roma, 1.3% Serbs, and 2.3% Greeks, Bosnians, and Bulgarians.
On the other hand, genetic evidence firmly establishes the Greek heritage of the ancient Macedonians. Such evidence, based on thorough DNA analyses, challenges the narratives of those seeking a source of pride and counters local and foreign actors’ denial of historical truths.
Greek Genetic Continuity
Triantaphyllidis emphasizes:
“Since 1975, we have known that Greeks from Macedonia share a genetic makeup similar to others, based on classical genetic markers such as protein polymorphisms. Comparisons between Greeks and Bulgarians showed statistically significant differences in four out of five tests.”
The genetic makeup of neighboring Slavic populations has been studied using various DNA markers, including Y-chromosome variations (inherited from father to children), mitochondrial variations (inherited from mother to children), and autosomal genetic markers (inherited from both parents). These diverse genetic data indicate that despite geographical proximity, the genetic composition of neighboring Slavic populations differs from that of Greeks. Their genetics align more closely with the Slavs of Central and Eastern Europe, while the Greek genetic profile resembles that of Italians.
A “Mythical” Greek Origin
An article in the scientific journal Science described modern Greeks as having an “almost mythical origin.” Triantaphyllidis further elaborated in an interview with Newsbomb.gr:
“The most remarkable finding is that modern Greeks share 90% of their genetic ancestry with populations that lived in Northern Greece 4,000 years ago. Furthermore, ancient genome analyses showed that Aegean populations were genetically similar despite cultural distinctions (Cycladic, Minoan, Hellenic), especially during the Early Bronze Age (3200–2000 BC), and displayed genetic continuity with earlier Neolithic populations (6500–3300 BC).”
The Kalash Tribe Connection
Triantaphyllidis also mentioned the Kalash people of Pakistan, believed to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers. Remarkably, their DNA supports this tradition:
“The Kalash, an isolated population surrounded by Islamic communities, speak an Indo-European language and claim descent from Alexander’s soldiers. Indeed, genetic analyses reveal that the Kalash share a genetic pool with populations of Europe and Asia Minor, not those of Southeast Asia. While caution is needed, there is evidence of limited genetic mixing between Europeans/Greeks and the ancestors of the Kalash, preserving the genetic signature of Alexander’s soldiers even 2,500 years later.”
Macedonian DNA in Central Asia
In a revealing report by Newsbomb.gr, an Asian woman with paternal roots in Tajikistan underwent a Y-chromosome DNA test, tracing her lineage back to the southern Balkans around 450 BC. This timeline and location align perfectly with Alexander the Great’s campaign against the Persians. He established the furthest Greek settlement, Alexandria Eschate (near modern Khujand), in 329 BC. It is well-known that Alexander organized mass mixed marriages between his soldiers and local women.
It becomes evident that the genetic and historical connection between North Macedonians and ancient Macedonians is as tenuous as suggesting Shakespeare was from Belarus.