Student Question
What is the connection between Alexander the Great and Greek words in today's Kalash language?
Quick answer:
The Kalash language, spoken by the Kalasha people in the Hindu-Kush mountains, shows a connection to Greek due to historical influences from Alexander the Great's conquests. After Alexander's army reached India, Hellenistic kingdoms spread Greek culture and language, including in the Seleucid Empire, which ruled the Kalasha region. Some Kalasha people claim descent from Alexander's soldiers, but genetic testing has not confirmed this link.
Kalasha is an Indo-European language that is spoken by the Kalasha people in the Hindu-Kush mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is the closest language to the ancient Sanskrit tongue. The close association of the Kalasha language is a result of the Macedonian conquest of the former Achaemenid Empire in the Fourth Century. Alexander the Great and his armies reached India before turning around to head home. The Hellenistic kingdoms that succeeded Alexander spread Greek customs and language throughout their domains. The Kalasha people were under the rule of the Seleucid Empire, which was the largest Hellenistic kingdom. Some members of the Kalasha people have even claimed to be descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Genetic testing, however, has not confirmed this to be true.
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