Appearance of Sicilians relative to other Mediterraneans? (poll included)

[oreo_cookie]

I like to take the middle point of view - Spaniards and Portuguese are neither like Irish or North Africans, but a SW European population whose looks are exactly as you expect given their location and genes.

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

I like to take the middle point of view - Spaniards and Portuguese are neither like Irish or North Africans, but a SW European population whose looks are exactly as you expect given their location and genes.

I agree, SW European / Atlantic primarily.

 

[oreo_cookie]

Anyone else have anything to add to the topic? I'll create a separate Spain/Portugal thread if we want to discuss that, too.

 

[Knovas]

Perhaps it's not a good idea, since it's almost sure that some people will post with the worst of intentions to dark Spaniards. I like the idea, but the problem is that with some people it is imposible to have a serious discussion about this.

I'd prefer to continue the main thread normally, and it's okay for all.

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

Perhaps it's not a good idea, since it's almost sure that some people will post with the worst of intentions to dark Spaniards. I like the idea, but the problem is that with some people it is imposible to have a serious discussion about this.

I'd prefer to continue the main thread normally, and it's okay for all.

I agree, Knovas. Unfortunately there are too many malicious people in cyberspace given to the most absurd notions concerning Spaniards. It's the kind of behavior that can keep social psychologists very busy for years. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are taking notes here regularly.

 

[oreo_cookie]

I just wanted to keep this thread on topic which is why I suggested creating a separate Iberian-themed thread.

 

[Knovas]

¿What about the Maltese? I think there's not much genetic data, but they are probably quite similar compared to Southern Italians/Sicilians.

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

¿What about the Maltese? I think there's not much genetic data, but they are probably quite similar compared to Southern Italians/Sicilians.

Maltese, I believe, are even more Near Eastern than S. Italians / Sicilians.

 

[Dorianfinder]

Maltese, I believe, are even more Near Eastern than S. Italians / Sicilians.

The Maltese language has Arabic influences from North Africa. I would expect typical Phoenician markers.

 

[Mzungu mchagga]

I had a Maltese girlfriend. She and her family looked like the Sicilians posted in the pictures above.

 

[oreo_cookie]

Maltese people came from Sicily originally so they are probably pretty much the same people genetically.. the only reason their language is related to Arabic is because of a large settlement to Malta when Sicily was under Muslim rule.

 

[Dorianfinder]

I would expect typical Phoenician markers.

The Phoenicians colonized Malta from about 1000 BC, bringing their Semitic language and culture, and becoming the direct male-line ancestors of about a half of the modern Maltese population.

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=57215
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature2/online_extra.html

 

[Wilhelm]

The Maltest haplogroup profile is similar to that of Sicily. And autosomally there is a Maltese individual at Eurogenes, he clusters with South-Italians too.

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

The Maltese language has Arabic influences from North Africa. I would expect typical Phoenician markers.

Interesting information. Thanks.

 

[oreo_cookie]

I wouldn't expect Maltese to be any more Phoenician than Sicilians are, given that most Maltese came from Sicily anyway (which, btw, received Phoenician colonization as well). I have seen plenty of Maltese people and they look pretty much the same.

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

I've known two Maltese people in my life. One looked like a standard Southern Italian and the other Arabic.

 

[oreo_cookie]

I've known two Maltese people in my life. One looked like a standard Southern Italian and the other Arabic.

Makes sense to me

 

[oreo_cookie]

Last round of pictures for this thread;

 

[Cambrius (The Red)]

Sicilians are very diverse and have many different phenotypes.

 

[oreo_cookie]

Anyone else have anything to add to this thread?