Why is the Black Sea called "black"?

The Black Sea was first named by the ancient Greeks who called it "Inhospitable Sea." The sea got this reputation because it was difficult to navigate, and hostile tribes inhabited its shores. There are a number of hypotheses for why it was eventually called the Black Sea.
One hypothesis is that in ancient time, various colours were assigned to different directions; black for north, red for south, yellow for east and white for the west. As it was located in the north of the Mediterranean Sea for which the ancients believed to be situated in the middle of the earth. So it was called the Black Sea meaning a sea in the north. 
Another theory associated the name with of the chemical properties of water. The Black Sea's deep waters are much less saline, as a result the microalgae concentration is much richer, causing the colour to become darker. The Black Sea has a depth of over 150 meters, and at a certain depth, its waters become toxic and poisonous. Therefore, in the deepest layers of its water, there are no living things except sulphur bacteria. Metal objects from ships, dead plants, and animal matter that sunk for a long period of time became covered with a black sludge.
It is called the Black sea because it was a Sea of Death. From the perspective of sailors, the sea was black due to severe storms in the winter, during which the water is so dark it looks black. In past, Sailors who caught in a storm usually died because of the absence of islands at which to harbour and the fierceness of the storms.

Comments

  1. How interesting, something I never thought about!! Beautiful images and such a pretty sky!!

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  2. Awesome pics and post. Thanks for sharing :)

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  3. Great post.. thanks for sharing!

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  4. Hello, interesting post. Love the sky captures. Happy Skywatching, enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!

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  5. Interesting history and beautiful photos!!

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  6. Interesting....nice skywatch post.

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  7. Beautiful images and interesting information.

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  8. Lovely shots, serene colour and I learnt something new too!

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  9. Lovely photos! #photofriday

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  10. Piękne miejsca :) pozdrawiamy

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  11. I wish you a nice weekend.

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  12. Interesujący post.
    Miłego weekendu.

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  13. Wspaniałe zdjęcia, zachwycająca kolorystyka i ujęcie. :)

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  14. I don't think I've ever seen a blog post with photos of the Black Sea nor have I ever read anything about the origin of the name. So I've learned something thanks to you. Fascinating stuff.

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  15. Fascinating! I've always wondered why it's calked the BLACK Sea. :-)

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  16. Interesting comments on the origins of this sea. Beautiful sky colours.

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  17. How interesting, I've never been to the dead sea, it looks beautiful and interesting to read the science behind the colour

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  18. Interesting post, lovely pink tinge reflected on the water.

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  19. Very interesting history. I've never been, but am interested in going.

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  20. Looks very fascinating. Beautiful captures.

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  21. Amazing and also, fascinating theories associated with the name, various and so interesting to think of this. Thank you for sharing with all of us!

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  22. Beautiful photos and such an interesting post!

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  23. Beautiful and stunning captures of the Black Sea (hubby has been there, but not I) did not know about its history, so thank you much for sharing the views of the Black Sea with SEASONS with all of us. Have a beautiful week!

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  24. I have always heard of the Black Sea but I knew nothing about it's origin. Thank you for joining Blue Monday and for your wonderful entry with the history behind the black Sea.
    Happy Blue Monday.
    Jeanne

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  25. Your photos are lovely and the information about it is very interesting! Thanks for the post.

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  26. The ancient Greeks called the Black Sea "Euxīnus (Εὔξεινος = hospitable) Pontus (Πόντος = Sea)", but they were masters of euphemism! I like the idea of black signifying North, hence the name of "Black (= North) Sea."
    Thank you for linking with the Saturday Silhouettes meme.

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