Greek Wikipedia (Ελληνική Βικιπαίδεια)

The Greek-language edition of Wikipedia, begun in 2002. A volunteer-built online encyclopedia in Modern Greek, notable for coverage of Greek topics, evolving community policies and steady growth milestones.

Greek Wikipedia (Greek: Ελληνική Βικιπαίδεια) is the Greek-language edition of the free, online encyclopedia Wikipedia. It provides encyclopedic articles written in Modern Greek and uses the same open, collaboratively edited model and software as other editions. Launched on December 1, 2002, it is one of the early language editions and has developed a substantial body of content focused both on general knowledge and subjects of particular interest to Greek speakers.

Characteristics

The project uses the MediaWiki platform and publishes content under free licenses, allowing reuse and redistribution. Articles use the Greek alphabet and standard Modern Greek orthography, while community policies guide style, sourcing, notability and dispute resolution. Typical features include:

Biographical, historical and cultural articles about Greece and the Hellenic world.
General-topic entries translated or created by volunteers.
Interlanguage links and citations compatible with other language editions.

History and development

After its start in late 2002, the edition reached its first thousand-article milestone on December 15, 2003. Growth continued through the 2000s: by October 2009 the project exceeded 45,000 articles. Its relative rank among Wikipedia editions has varied with time; for example, in October 2015 it was listed as the 50th largest by article count. Development has been driven by volunteer editors both inside Greece and in the Greek diaspora.

Community and governance

Like other language editions, governance relies on volunteer administrators, experienced editors and community consensus rather than a central office. Policies on verifiability, neutral point of view and copyright reflect general Wikimedia principles adapted to the linguistic and cultural context. The community organizes local initiatives, edit-a-thons and outreach to improve coverage of Greek topics.

Importance and notable facts

The Greek edition serves readers and researchers seeking information in Modern Greek and contributes to preserving and disseminating Greek-language knowledge on the web. It interacts with other language editions through translations and cross-linking, and remains an important resource for students, educators and the general public.