Halych (Latin Galic) which was the first capital of the Galician principality. The name Halych in turn derives from the Ukrainian word halka which means "crow", which is reflected by the crow at the center of the city's early modern coat of arms. Many also believe that the name Halych/Galic (and from it Halychyna/Galizia) is derived from the Greek word ἅλς (hals), meaning "salt". The Byzantines and the Greeks had a strong influence on these lands and it was from the Greeks that Galicia and Kievan Rus' were converted to Christianity. In fact the Greek word for salt pit is αλυκή (alyki), which makes a strong argument that Halych could be an alteration of that. Halych was rich in salt, which was mined in the region. During the early medieval period, salt was Halych's main export. Today, however, there is no more salt mining in Halych. Bibliography Encyclopedia of Ukraine Small Dictionary of History of Ukraine See also Galicia (Eastern Europe) West Galicia Russian occupation of Eastern Galicia, 1914–15 Jewish–Ukrainian relations in Eastern Galicia Red Ruthenia District of Galicia Lwów Voivodeship Ruthenian Voivodeship References Notes Eastern