From the time that I was a child introduced to a global atlas I have wondered how the Black Sea got its name. Throughout the years, each time I've heard its name mentioned it would send me searching for an answer. In my adult life I heard that it was named after the presence of Black people, however, I could not put my finger on when and where I heard such. It was in the last few years of conducting research for two books I am writing that I have been able to answer the question with certitude. Before I tell you the answer a bit of background is in order.
I came to know the answer indirectly by following the migrations of the ancient Tehnu (aka Libyan) of North Africa. How is that, you might ask? Well: The Tehnu, between 3,500 BC and 3,200 BC, fought the Ta-Mari(ans) lead by Pharaoh Mena over sovereignty of the Nile Valley area. At the heart of the dispute was the issue of an economy and hierarchy based upon Animal Husbandry (Tehnu) versus Agriculture (Ta-Mari) - the Tehnu lost and Kemet went on to become the greatest agricultural based society in the ancient world. In fact it is the Nubia-Kemet agricultural society that engendered civilization, and by way of the Ausarian Faith diffused said civilization around the world.
The Tehnu dispersed, with some staying under the authority of the Pharaoh, while some moved west along the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, while some migrated east to the areas of Asia minor and the eastern Mediterranean shores of Canaan and Ugarit (Syria), and some went further east to India and China among other places. It is the group that crossed the Mediterranean Sea that led me to the answer. A contingent of the Tehnu migrated to the Island of Crete, where they established the Minoan Society, and, to Mainland Europe where they established the society of Argos. This group migrated even further northeast till they surrounded the shores of the Black Sea. They established settlements west (Thrace), north, and south (in Hatti/Turkey) along the Black Sea. The Kheti, Ta-Meri(ans), and others of Nubia-Kemet eastablished settlements south (Hatti) and east (Kheti = Colchis) along the Black Sea. From these areas the Tehnu migrated along the rivers leading into Europe and Eurasia - rivers that now bear their name: Tenu (Don), Dniester, Dnieper, and Danube (Tehnu).
Along the Tenu (Don) and Dnieper Rivers the Tehnu migrated into what is now Russia (Eastern Europe) where they established numerous villages, cities and towns - including Kazan (on the Volga River), Chernigov (on the Dnieper River), and Cherusci (north of the Dniester) in modern-day Germany. Note that the prefix Cher(n) in archaic Russian means Black, and Black Town. Chernobog - meaning 'Black god' - was one of the numerous Black gods throughout Russia, and of the many throughout Europe, in general. Along the Danube River the Tehnu traveled through what is now Western Europe all the way to the British Isles and Ireland where they settled - becoming known as the Tautha De Danann: meaning: The people of the Ntcher (deity, god) Danu (Anu) - an ancient Kemetic Sun/Creator god. The Tehnu, pastoral-herdsmen, established the Tenetian Faith - celebrating Ntcher (goddess) Tena-t - portrayed as the Sacred-Cow - everyplace they settled; in fact, they introduced animal husbandry to the British Isles - including Ireland, for which the area is now famous. Incidentally, the Ausarians followed them - as well as preceded them in some other areas. Between the two of them they established branches of the Kemetic Faith throughout the Black Sea area and throughout Europe and Eurasia.
In fact, the roots (foundation) of what is considered to be Celtic, Norse, and early Russian society and culture were established by the Twa, Tehnu, and the Ta-Mari(an) of Africa.
It is in distinguishing the exploits of the Tehnu in the history, myths and legends of Europe, and to a lesser extent that of the Ausarians, that I came to understand that once upon a time almost all of Europe, at least from the Volga River in eastern Europe and west to the British Isles - including Ireland, and, parts of southwestern Europe were called the 'Black Lands' or 'Land of the Black People(s)'. White peoples who migrated (invaded) the areas subsequently, designated territories all around (especially boundaries) by the color of the people they encountered. Hence: Black Forest, Black River, and Black Lands. In addition they named the occupation and skills of the Black people they encountered: black-smith, black-magic, black-arts, black-science, and the gods: black-god(s)- e.g. Chernobog, etc. Added to this, all of the Black societies south of Europe bore similar names such as Kemet: 'Land of the Blacks'; Sag-Gi-(Ga)(Sumer): 'The Black Headed People'; Meluhha (Indus): 'Land of the Blacks'; and Shang (China): 'The Black Headed People'. It all began to fit into place. Black people where taking a stand by naming their occupied territories 'Land of the Black People' against the invading White hordes, who, themselves were naming territories 'Black' after the Black people they encountered, and subsequently, naming territories they conquered from Black people 'White' - For example: Belarus - meaning 'White Russia'; the 'White Sea' - north of the Baltic Sea - in contrast to the Black Sea - etc. Additionally, the Black Sea is called 'Cherno more' (Bulgarian), 'Chornoye more' (Russian), and 'Chorne more' (Ukrainian); yet, all attempts to explain its name by White sources ignore the obvious: Black inhabitants -
See for example: EncyclopediaOfUkraine.com -Click Here / and: Wikipedia.org -Click Here
It was in light of the forgoing that I came to know and understand that the Black Sea got its name due to the preponderance of Black people that inhabited the territories surrounding it for hundreds and thousands of miles in all directions, and for thousands of years before the coming of White people. Now you know what I know: The Black Sea - named for the Black people that inhabited its surrounding shores (lands).
Notes:
Diodorus' Map - Diodorus lived in the first-century B.C., by his time each of the major Black civilizations (societies) had been conquered by invading Whites - The area noted as Scythia once occupied by descendants of the Tehnu and Ta-Mari were overrun by barbaric Scythian tribes; east of the Black Sea - Colchis - is where Herodotus visited the Kheti (Nubian-Egyptian) tribes. South of Colchis, Sumerian Civilization in Mesopotamia was invaded by White barbaric tribes continuously for approximately two-thousand years and ultimately destroyed before Diodorus.
Further to the east, Indus and Shang civilizations and societies were overrun by White barbarians - including the Aryans. From 700 BC to the time of Diodorus (100 BC), Kemet (Egypt), at the southeast of the Mediterranean Sea had been overrun by successive groups of White invaders Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans.
References:
Birrell, Anne, (1993), Chinese Mythology: An Introduction, The Johns Hopkins University Press
The earliest 'Chinese' society - Shang - is of African (Black) origins - this book is a good resource to compare early 'Chinese' Mythology to that of Kemet, to know that Kemet is its source. See p.83 for reference to 'black-haired people'. Note that most contemporary White scholars routinely interpret (change) ancient references of 'black-head' and 'black-face' to 'black-hair' as a way of 'hiding' the presence of Black people - this author has done the same.
Bonnefoy, Yves, (1981), Mythologies 2.vols, University of Chicago Press
This is a very good set to have or to consult on mythologies around the world; however, beware of the Eurocentric bias to relate other peoples mythology to Greeks and Romans, and to falsely claim various people, especially Black people in Europe and Eurasia, and their myths to be 'Indo-European'.
Dixon-Kennedy, Mike, (1998), Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend, ABC-CLIO
See the listings for 'Cher' - however, be leery of the authors modern racial bias in defining the Black-God 'Chernobog' - as the epitome of evil, which was not the case anywhere in Russia, especially where there were numerous Black gods all of whom were beneficent - including the Black God of the Black Forest, the Black God of the Black River, the Black god of the Black Stream, Dunai the Black-god-hero for whom the Danube river is named, and the Black god euhemerized as Saint George; and of course one cannot forget the numerous 'Black Madonna's' - Black goddesses - celebrated throughout Europe - east and west.
Grantham, Charles A, (2003), The Battle For Kemet, Kemetic Institute Of Chicago
Very good essays; see especially the essay entitled 'The Battle For Kemet' that debunks the racist assertions by 'White Egyptologist' that promote a fraudulent interpretation of the name 'Kemet'.
Henig, Martin, ed., (1995), A Handbook of Roman Art, Phaidon - Oxford University Press
Herodotus, (George Rawlinson, Trans.), (1942) The Persian Wars, Random House Inc.
Herodotus as a resource provides a valuable historical account of the Black presence in Eurasia, especially along the Black Sea - himself being an eyewitness.
Holloran, John Alan, (2006), Sumerian Lexicon: A Dictionary Guide to the Ancient Sumerian Language, Logogram Publishing
A good resource for studying the language of Sumer - an ancient Black civilization of Kemetic orientation. See p. 224 for Sag-gi-(ga): 'Black-headed people' reference.
Kramer, Samuel Noah, (1963), The Sumerians Their History, Culture, and Character, The University Of Chicago Press
A good survey of Sumerian Civilization, however, beware of the author efforts to claim the Black civilization as the doings of White people - who where in fact invaders and, ultimately, destroyers of Sumerian civilization. See pp. 276-284 for Meluhha - 'Land of the Blacks'- reference.
Massey, Gerald, (1995 [1881]), A Book Of The Beginnings - 2-vol's., Black Classic Press
Volume-One of Massey's 503-page tome is devoted to exposing the 'Egyptian' (Black) origins of civilization and society in the British Isles, including its residual artifacts - cultural, religious, material, and language. Volume-Two is an exhaustive expose of the 'Egyptian' (Black) origins of the Hebrew and Akkado-Assyrian societies, culture and religions.
Rolleston, T.W., (1990 [1917]), Celtic Myths and Legends, Dover Publications
The author acknowledges the 'Egyptian' [Kemetic] origins and impact on Celtic society, religion and culture. However, beware of his efforts to link the culture to White (Aryan) people.
Siculus, Diodorus, [Murphy, Edwin, trans.] (1989), Book II - The Antiquities Of Asia, Transaction Publishers
Source of the map from Diodorus' time
Sertima, Ivan Van, (1993), African Presence In Early Europe, Journal Of African Civilizations, Transaction Publishers
This publication features excellent articles and a wealth of documentation on the Black presence in Europe in general, and of the Tehnu in particular.