Selanik

Salonicco, Selanik, Солун? Salonicha or Salonique? There are at least thirteen medieval variants alone; the city is an indexer's nightmare and a linguist's delight. 'Is there really a correct pronunciation of Salonika?' wrote an English ex-serviceman in 1941. 'At any rate nearly all of us now spell it with a "k".' His presumption stirred up a hornet's nest. 'Why Saloneeka, when every man in the last war knew it as Salonika?' responded a certain Mr Pole from Totteridge. 'I disagree with W. Pole', wrote Captain Vance from Edgware, Middlesex. 'Every man in the last war did not know it as Salonika'. Mr Wilks of Newbury tried to calm matters by helpfully pointing out that in 1937 'by Greek royal decree, Salonica reverted to Thessaloniki'. In fact it had been officially known by the Greek form since the Ottomans were defeated in 1912.

Mazower, p.16

photos by minas of the north

here I come