A people out of nowhere - the true origins of the gypsies

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Gypsies have been known in Europe since the 15th century. But where Sinti and Roma came from and why they speak such an unusual language, few people know.

Where did the gypsies come from?

Where exactly the Roma or, as they are called today, Roma originated, scientists still argue. It is almost impossible to establish this with 100% accuracy - since the people did not have their own written language for a long time, no documents have survived that could shed light on their origin. Oral traditions reflect the history of only a few generations.

Nevertheless, scientists have developed several theories of the origin of the Roma. The most plausible of them says that representatives of the Roma tribe once separated from their Indian ancestors and went to roam. This hypothesis first appeared at the end of the 18th century, when the German scientist Grelman compared the physical characteristics of the Roma and their language with the appearance and language of the inhabitants of India and found a lot in common. Gradually, other researchers began to join him. The most widespread version is the appearance of the gypsies in the northwest of India. Other scholars believe that the ancestors of the Gypsies were originally from central India and moved north only in the 5th century AD. e.

Indian gypsies

Scientists prove the kinship of Roma with Indian peoples, for example, by the similarity of their culture with the traditions of Indian nomadic tribes. For example, Nats still sell horses, take bears and monkeys to villages and show tricks. Banjars wander from one village to another and are engaged in trade. Sappers are famous for their snake charming tricks, badi for their music, and bihari for their circus arts. All these tribes or castes are similar in appearance to the Gypsies, but many researchers believe that in fact there is no genetic connection between them and the Roma people. Such tribes are called "gypsy-like".

origin of name

The theory of the origin of the gypsies from one of the lower castes of India, however, is not devoid of meaning. It is indicated, for example, by the self-designation of the people “Roma” or “Roma” (also “house” or “scrap” in other variants). Linguists believe that this word goes back to the Indo-Aryan "d'om", where the first sound can be pronounced in different ways. Probably, this name has even more ancient roots. Scientists have suggested that it comes from the word "ḍōmba", which in classical Sanskrit meant a person from a lower caste. But there is another version, according to which the self-name of the gypsies comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "drum".

In Russian, the Gypsies got their name from the "Life of St. George of Athos". True, scientists are still arguing about who exactly was meant in the document of the 11th century. Perhaps, the author did not call the Roma people "attings" at all, but a widespread sect. Be that as it may, the name stuck in the language.

In other languages, for example, in English or Spanish, gypsies are called similar words, which come from Egyptians - Egyptians. This name appeared for a reason. The fact is that, having first appeared in Europe, the Roma declared that they came from Egypt. The dark skin and unusual language convinced the Europeans, and they began to call the Roma people Egyptians, and later - "gitanos" or "Gypsies". However, there are other variants of the names - for example, the French call the Roma “Bohemians”, and in many languages the name, derived from the word “black”, has stuck.

Gypsies in Europe

The gypsies did not deceive the Europeans at all, saying that they came from Egypt. They probably ended up in northern Africa on their way from India to Europe. Around the 10th century, a small group of people, according to stories, no more than 1000, went to roam from the north of India towards the Old World. Why exactly the tribe decided to leave their home is not known for certain. The 10th century in India was restless, full of unrest and raids. Tired of oppression and attacks, the ancestors of the gypsies decided to wander in search of a better life.

In western Europe, Roma first appeared at the beginning of the 15th century. Gathering a large army, the gypsies set out from Romania along the Danube and reached Pest. From there they scattered further throughout Europe. Literally a dozen years after the first appearance of the gypsies, you can already find in Italy, France, England and Spain.

Religion and language

At first, the Roma were well received. The fact is that they quickly adapted to the conditions of life in the new country and easily adopted its religion, becoming Catholics in Spain, Orthodox in Russia and Muslims in Turkey. Accordingly, the language also changed - in the dialect of modern gypsy tribes, you can find echoes of the dialects of those countries where they lived and live. For example, in the speech of Gypsies from Russia there are borrowings from Greek, Romanian, Slavic languages. In the North Russian Gypsies, features of Greek, Bulgarian, Serbian and even German and Polish slip through their dialects. In addition, today the Roma people are also found in Asia, America and Australia.

Other theories

The Indian theory of the origin of the Roma is now almost certainly proven. Thanks to new methods of genetic and linguistic research, it was possible to establish a connection between the Roma people and modern Indian tribes. However, there are several more theories known to history, which were adhered to by scientists at different times. For example, some historians have suggested that the Roma were descended from German Jews. One of the most amazing legends even claimed that the gypsies are the descendants of the inhabitants of the sunken Atlantis. The idea of the origin of the Gypsies from Western Asia is considered to be quite widespread. So they are associated with the Siginne tribe, about which Herodotus spoke.