The book in hand presents selected texts by Professor Ioannis Koumaris on the subject of the Greek Race. Professor Ioannis Koumaris (1879-1970) was the pioneering founder of Physical Anthropology in Greece and the most important Greek physical anthropologist of the first half of the twentieth century, as well as a scientific figure of international scope.

The discovery of the DNA structure by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 led to the gradual development of genetics, which today has opened new horizons in the study of both individuals and human groups.

Subsequent studies in both physical anthropology and genetics have confirmed Koumaris’ conclusions, both regarding the "autochthony" of the Greeks and the existence of a population "core" of Greeks, which is distinct from both the Slavs and the Turks. From this perspective, the views of Professor Ioannis Koumaris constitute an interesting fragment in the historical course of the formation of scientific knowledge about the Greek nation and, consequently, our national self-awareness.

The theory of the "Indo-European race" was characterized by Koumaris as a "colossal mistake," as it united entirely different anthropological types (e.g., English, Greeks, and Indians) into one "race," whereas, in essence, it was a matter of "linguistic similarity" among different races.

Moreover, during the interwar period, he did not share the racist theories of the time about "superior" and "inferior" races; he rejected the Nazi racial theory and condemned the brutality displayed by the Nazis against the Jews. More generally, he argued that Physical Anthropology must remain neutral and apolitical, emphasizing that religious fanaticism must never be replaced by racial fanaticism.

He supported the view that over the centuries no "race" had remained completely "pure" from "foreign" admixtures, but considered that there was a "fluid stability," i.e., an ancient core, a prevailing main racial nucleus, which maintained the unity of the biological and psychological characteristics of the "race." Koumaris maintained that Greeks can be considered, beyond a distinct nation, as a separate "race," as they were physiognomically distinct from other Europeans (e.g., Russians, English, etc.) and had age-old biological cohesion and psychological similarity.