Yiannis Ritsos

Poet (1909 – 1990)

The poet of Romiosyni, Yiannis Ritsos, who was born in Monemvasia, is one of modern Greece’s most highly-read and beloved poets as well as an internationally acknowledged literary figure. His work, which spans over 100 poem collections, 4 theatrical plays and 9 novels, has been translated in 40 languages.

Ritsos wrote his first poems at the age of 8. He made his first debut in the literary world in a magazine called Children’s Formation in 1924. He suffered from hardships due to the loss of his brother and mother from tuberculosis and the loss of their fortune due to his father’s gambling. This forced Ritsos to try to earn his living by working as a subeditor, an actor and even a dancer.

Tractor became Ritsos’ first major publication of his collection of poems under the pseudonym Y. Sostir (his actual name spelled backwards). This marked an important beginning in Ritsos’ career. In the following years, he would write some of the most renowned poetic collections in the history of Greek literature and would earn the chrism of Kostis Palamas, modern Greece’s national poet.

He wrote the Pyramids, a collection of poems which were followed by the highly acclaimed Epitaph in 1936, The Song of my Sister, Spring Symphony and Embaterion of the Ocean. He also wrote Old mazurka in the rhythm of the rain and Trial, two collections of poems, followed by the novel In the Foothills of Silence. During the Greek civil war in 1948, Ritsos was arrested exiled in Lemnos and Macronesos. There, he continued publishing poetic collections.

1954 marked the year of publication of Ritsos’ monumental masterpiece Romiosyni, together with The Lady of the Vineyards. The former was met with widespread acclaim internationally and was set to music by Mikis Theodorakis, as was the Epitaph. In 1956, Ritsos published the Moonlight Sonata, for which he was awarded the National Prize of Literature, together with Aris Dicteos. In 1962 he published a series of collections of short poems – monologues with themes from ancient Greek tragic poetry The Dead House and Under the Shadow of the Mountain. Numerous other poems followed until his worldwide recognition in the 70’s, most notably Gignesthai, a collection of 32 poems published between the years 1970 and 1977.

In 1970 he was elected member of the Academy of Literature of West Germany. In 1972 he was awarded the Great International Award for Poetry in Belgium, the Georgi Dimitrov international award in Bulgaria and the Great Prize for Poetry Alfre de Viny in France in 1975 while in 1976 he received the Etna-Taormina international award in Italy. In 1986 he was awarded the Peace Poetry Award by the United Nations and in 1990, a few months before his death, he received the Joliot-Curie award by the World Peace Council, the highest distinction for world peace.

Ritsos was not only a poet. He was a playwright, a painter, an idealist, a revolutionary of the left, recognized worldwide by accomplished poets as one of Europe’s greatest poetic voices of the 20^th century. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature 9 times and was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize, which, he considered more important for him than the Nobel Prize. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by numerous distinguished European universities. Nevertheless, he remained a humble man throughout his entire life; he referred to himself as a “simple worker” with an easy-to-pronounce name: Yiannis Ritsos.

Bibliography

1. The Poet of Romiossyni. Ellines.com. Web. Retrieved on January 10, 2017.
2. Γιάννης Ρίτσος 1909 -1990 Ο ποιητής της Ρωμιοσύνης. Thehistoryofgreece.blogspot.bg. Web. September 5, 2013. Retrieved on January 10, 2017.

Constantine Caratheodory

Mathematician, Physicist, Engineer, Scholar (1873 – 1950)

Constantin Caratheodory was the greatest Greek mathematician since antiquity and one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20^th century. He lived and worked primarily in Germany, where, as a polymath, was involved with physics, languages, engineering, archeology, politics and most importantly mathematics. He is the only Greek to have been awarded the title of Member of the German Academy of Sciences to date.

He was born in Berlin in 1873 to a Greek noble family and studied engineering in Belgium. Prior to this, Caratheodory had won twice the first prize in mathematical competitions consecutively of all Gymnasiums of Germany. In 1889 he went to work in Egypt as an engineer in the dam of Aswan. His love for mathematics, however, made his return to Berlin and study mathematics. In 1905 he became an associate professor in the University of Gottingen, Germany while in 1909 he became professor in the University of Hanover. Finally in 1918 he became chairman of the department of mathematics in the University of Berlin.

In 1920 he was invited by then Prime Minister of Greece Eleutherios Venizelos to organize the Greek University of Smyrna. His attempts, although highly successful, were short-lived and Caratheodory barely managed to save his own life during the Great Fire of Smyrna in 1922. Nevertheless, he managed to salvage the school’s library and transport it to Athens, whereupon he assumed the position of full-time professor in the University of Athens in 1923 and later in the National Technical University. In 1924, Caratheodory was appointed professor of mathematics in the University of Munich. Throughout the years he would teach in various prestigious universities worldwide such as in Breslau, Harvard, California etc.

In 1930 Caratheodory was reinvited by Eleutherios Venizelos to reorganize the administration of the University of Athens and the University of Thessaloniki. For 50 years, the two universities functioned successfully thanks to Caratheodory’s administrative system. Two years later, he resigned from his position in the Greek universities and moved back to the University of Munich, in contempt for his fellow professors’ envy against him. He would remain in Munich for the rest of his life, where he indulged in mathematics and made some of the most groundbreaking mathematical discoveries in the history of mankind.

Caratheodory had over 60 scientific publications in his academic career. His most significant contributions to mathematics were in the calculus of variations, in the theory of real functions, set theory, geometry, calculus, complex numbers and mathematical analysis. Moreover, he created new theorems, most of which today bear his name and solved mathematical problems that troubled mathematicians such as Gauss and Euler for hundreds of years. In physics, Caratheodory was involved with geometric optics, statistical mechanics, entropy and primarily with thermodynamics. Some modern physicists consider Caratheodory today as the Father of Thermodynamics.

Caratheodory is known to have been the mentor and teacher of Nobel-prize winning physicist Albert Einstein, according to Einstein’s own statements. Einstein first contacted Caratheodory in 1916, seeking his help to solve mathematical problems that for Caratheodory were “classical”. The later answered in 10 days. Einstein would often seek Caratheodory’s advices on mathematical issues since Einstein’s knowledge on mathematics were poor. It was Constantine Caratheodory who helped Einstein complete the theory of relativity, since Caratheodory had also been heavily involved with it himself. It was in 1924 when he published his magnum opus of physics Axiomatic on the special theory of relativity. In his final interview, Albert Einstein confessed: “You ask me to answer to all sorts of questions, but no one has ever wanted to know who was my teacher, who showed me the way to the higher mathematical science, thought and research. I simply say that my teacher was the unrivalled Greek Konstantinos Karatheodoris, to who we owe everything…”.

The “new Euclid” as he was called by Jules Vern when he was only 10 years old, the man who spoke 6 languages as well as ancient languages fluently never stopped working in mathematics. Even a few days before his death at the age of 77, Caratheodory was on his desk, researching new mathematics. He was a flaming patriot who, in spite of the fact that he only visited Greece twice in his lifetime, in his older years he combined engineering, his original studies, with his love, archeology and published important mathematical papers on the bases of the columns of the Parthenon.

Caratheodory achieved worldwide eminence in the field of mathematics and physics, except in Greece. When Einstein asked him to solve for him “… the problem with the closed lines of time…” and Caratheodory solved it, Einstein replied: “I kneel before you”.

Bibliography

1. Aftzigianni, Venetia. Albert Einstein’s teacher was the Great Greek Konstantinos Karatheodoris. Greekreporter.com. Web. February 21, 2011. Retrieved on December 12, 2016.
2. Ayfantis, Georgios. Anthropos & Epistimi – Enimerosis: Prehistory and History of Man, Science & Civilization. Athens: Hellinikon Selas, 2009. Print.
3. Ευριπίδης Στυλιανίδης. Κωνσταντίνος Καραθεοδωρή – Αφιέρωμα στο ALTER. Youtube. April 6, 2011. Web.
4. “Karatheodoris, Konstantinos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.

Ioannis Velissariou

Hero of the Balkan Wars (1861 – 1913)

Tagmatarch Ioannis Velissariou was a Major of the Greek army during the Balkan Wars, a man of immense bravery and virtue who fell on the field of battle in July 13, 1913 during the battle of Cresna, the last battle of the Second Balkan War. He used to be known as the “Black Rider” as he usually fought on a black horse and caused massive casualties to the opposing side.

As a polemologist, he had profound knowledge on the principles and tactics of war, combining them with his unparalleled courage. As such, he was distinguished as one of the greatest military figures in the history of Greece.

His first fighting experience was during the Graeco-Turkish war in 1897. He and his battalion were the only ones to retreat from battle only when he received a written request by the field marshal. With the outbreak of the 1^st Balkan War in 1812, Velissariou was appointed major of the 9^th battalion and partook actively in the liberation of the Greek lands from the Ottoman yoke. He played a protagonistic role in the 2-month Battle of Bizani and the siege of Ioannina, which resulted to the surrender of the Ottoman army and the liberation of Ioannina. To achieve this, he and his battalion infiltrated into three surrounding, occupied forts and cut the telephone and telegraph wires, ultimately blocking communication between Ioannina and Bizani. This resulted to the forfeit of the Ottoman forces who believed that the Greek army had occupied the areas outside Ioannina. Velissariou was the one who received the surrender from the Ottoman commander.

During the 2^nd Balkan War, Greece fought against Bulgaria for the lands of Macedonia. Velissariou fought in the Battle of Kilkis-Lachanas and Battle of Doirane. Finally, he fought in the Battle of Cresna, 20 km outside Sofia, which was the most gruelling battle of the 2^nd Balkan War. It was in this battle that Velissariou sacrificed himself in July 13, 1913 and passed down in history in the name of freedom as the “Hero of Heroes”. A hero whose virtues are found only next to those of the great heroes of Homer’s Iliad.

Bibliography

1. ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΒΕΛΙΣΣΑΡΙΟΥ. Sansimera.gr. Web. Retrieved on November 26, 2016.
2. Ταγματάρχης Ιωάννης Βελισσαρίου: Ένας Κουμιώτης ήρωας των Βαλκανικών πολέμων. Eviaportal.gr. November 26, 2013. Web. Retrieved on November 26, 2016.
3. “Velissariou, Ioannis”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
4. Retsina-Photinidou, Demetra. ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΒΕΛΙΣΣΑΡΙΟΥ:ΤΑΓΜΑΤΑΡΧΗΣ-ΗΡΩΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΗΡΩΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΛΚΑΝΙΚΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΜΩΝ (1912-1913). Dynati-ellada.gr. February 25, 2016. Web. Retrieved on November 26, 2016.

Cornelius Castoriadis

Philosopher (1922 – 1997)

Cornelius Castoriadis was one of the most renowned philosophers and psychoanalysts of the 20^th century. He lived and worked primarily in France and was involved not only with philosophy, but also economics, biology, psychology, humanities, social sciences and mathematics. He had been called the “philosopher of autonomy” and was co-founder of the philosophic group known as Socialisme ou Barbarie. He is the author of The Imaginary Institution of Society, a classic which, although few people have read, gained worldwide attention in the philosophic community and is considered today as one of the greatest works of modern philosophy.

The main question that Castoriadis addresses in The Imaginary Institution of Society is where are humanity’s actions that create social and historical institutions based on? In attempt to answer this question, Castoriadis introduced a new concept in philosophy, the concept of creative imagination, according to which society creates the presentation of itself through imagination. He argues that society establishes institutions not by logic but by creating new forms of institutions which have never existed in the past and which are not necessarily compatible with reality. History and society, according to Castoriadis, are creations of imagination not based on historical laws. In this way, society is self-instituted by its own imaginative creations, sometimes created unconsciously by the society itself.

Except from Imagination and Creation, other words such as Imaginaire and Autonomy were central in Castoriadis’ philosophy and psychoanalysis. The social imaginaire (κοινωνικό φαντασιακό) is the source of all meanings that define the values of a society, that is, what is good and was is bad, was is right and what is wrong etc, what is true and what is false. These meanings, he argued, cannot always be products of mental lucidity and, for example, in many religious societies, such values of social imaginaire originate from God. In that case, these values are holy and cannot be doubted by anyone. This brings the philosopher to the idea of autonomy. He supported that in societies governed by their own imaginary institutions, men cannot think freely, they cannot behave correctly and they cannot judge what is good or bad for them. The first society that was able to bring about a radical change in its own social imaginaire was that of Ancient Greece. He envisioned a new such radical change during our times that would establish a true democracy and would grant autonomy to the people, just like it happened in Greece thousands of years ago and during the Renaissance. Castoriades struggled for this change.

Castoriadis’ philosophy proposed a new ontology for man. His goal was for man to break through society’s imaginary social institutions and rethink about what society’s end goals ought to be and what should man’s own purpose as an individual be in that society. Man should have the ability to institute consciously so that he can create an autonomous society for himself.

Bibliography

1. Castoriadis, Cornelius. Οι τέσσερεις Λέξεις του Κ. Καστοριάδη Φαντασία, Φαντασιακό, Δημιουργία, Αυτονομία. Toperiodiko.gr. December 26, 2014. Web. Retrieved on November 8, 2016.
2. John V. Garner. Cornelius Castoriadis (1922 – 1997). Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Iep.utm.edu. Web. Retrieved on November 7, 2016.
3. Κορνήλιος Καστοριάδης (1922 -1997). Sansimera.gr. Web. Retrieved on November 6, 2016.
4. Οικονόμου, Γιώργος. Σαράντα χρόνια από την «Φαντασιακή Θέσμιση της Κοινωνίας». Efsyn.gr. May 6, 2015. Web. Retrieved on November 8, 2016

Angelos Sikelianos

Poet (1884 – 1951)

The Greek postage stamp of 1982 printed by the Hellenic Democracy depicts Angelos Sikelianos, whom Nobel Prize laureate Georgios Seferis called “the master of our voice”, commemorating one of Greece’s most celebrated poets and playwrights of the 20^th century.

Like most of his contemporary literary figures, Sikelianos abandoned his law studies in Athens seeking spiritual cultivation in the works of Homer, Pindar, Orpheus, Aeschylus, as well as the works of philosophers like Plato and Pythagoras, who imbued him with the immortal ancient Greek spirit. His first poetic collection was published in 1909. It was called Ἀλαφροΐσκιωτος (The Moonstruck) and it was a major success in the literary cycles, considered today as a landmark of modern Greek literature. The following poems that he published were The Consciousness of my Land (1915), The Consciousness of my Race (1916), The Consciousness of my Wife (1916) and The Consciousness of my Faith (1917) as well as the poetic collections Easter of the Greeks and Mother of God. All of his poems are characterized by a deep sense of Hellenism, the Hellenic ideals and religion.

During the Axis occupation of Greece in 1944, Sikelianos partook actively in the resistance against the German axis. His poem Ἠχῆστε οἱ Σάλπιγγες (Sound the Salpinges) was delivered during the funeral of Kostis Palamas in 1943, which was written in his memory. It is widely considered as one of the finest pieces of literature written in the previous century.

The postage stamp shows the poet standing in front of the pillars of Delphi. Sikelianos was the chief inspirer of the Delphic Idea, a vision of immense proportions aiming at the creation of a world spiritual center in Delphi that would unite the peoples of the world. With the help of his wife, he delivered lectures and published papers in an effort to implement his life-long dream. In 1927 the Delphic Idea was realized. The first Delphic Festivals took place, lasting for 2 days featuring ancient Greek theatre plays, sports, art galleries, music and songs. The festival had a world-wide acceptance. Men of letters, artists and scientists from all over the world came to Greece to participate in the celebration. The success was such that a second one was implemented in 1930. Sikelianos was awarded the silver medal by the Academy of Athens for his efforts to revive the Ancient Greek spirit. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints of the couple, the Delphic Idea ended in 1934.

Sikelianos served as President of the Literary Society of Greece and was nominated for the Nobel Prize of Literature 5 times. Kostis Palamas called him a philosopher more than a poet and Nikos Kazantzakis loved him as his closest friend and important source of influence. His works combined elements of romanticism and symbolism with the Ancient Greek Orphics and Pre-Socratic philosophers.

Bibliography

1. Kolovou, A. Η ζωή, το έργο και ο τραγικός θάνατος του ποιητή Άγγελου Σικελιανού. LIFO.gr, LIFO 2015. Retrieved on October 23, 2016.
2. Άγγελος Σικελιανός: Ο μεγάλος λυρικός. Tvxs.gr. Web. June 19, 2016. Retrieved on October 23, 2016.

Theophanis Manias

Researcher, Taxiarch, Veterinarian, Scholar (1912 – 1985)

Theophanis Manias’ work is multifarious given that he was a very versatile and passionate man. Most of all, he was a scientist and most importantly, a researcher who brought to light some of the most significant discoveries on the ancient Greek language, the ancient Greek mathematics and the geodesy of the ancient Greek monuments. He is called the “Father of Greek Geodetic Trigonism”.

Manias received his Veterinarian degree in Italy and during the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to Greece where he fought in the front of fort Roupel. Manias held the titles of Doctor, Taxiarch and Professor in various universities in Greece, both in medical and in military schools, including the title of Academic as member of the Academy of Veterinary sciences in Spain. In 1965 he abandoned his post as brigadier to focus on writing and research, for which he would remain in history.

After years of costly and meticulous studies, Manias discovered groundbreaking things which had been forgotten by history for thousands of years and which overturned conventional dogmas not just on the Greek history but also on the human civilization. He discovered the Geometric Geodetic Trigonism, a system of imaginary triangles which are formed by ancient Greek monuments and cities. Manias went deeper and discovered that it expanded to many and much more intricate shapes which defied even logic. Manias developed a topographic map depicting these shapes and later proved the existence of a complex interplay of mathematical and astronomical harmony between the monuments and the topographical shapes.

Furthermore, Manias discovered the secret of mathematics behind the Greek miracle and the mathematical and scientific structure of the Greek language, according to which the Greek language is a mathematical code where a word corresponds to a mathematical value, either numerical or geometric. Its decoding unveils religious and philosophical meanings of astounding wisdom. The secret of the Egyptian pyramids and the origin of poetry were also Manias’ discoveries.

Manias was also an important and innovative stock-farming reformer. Some of his other works include the introduction of mathematics in the curriculum of veterinarian studies, the foundation of the first factory of synthetic animal food production in Greece in 1955, the foundation of a veterinary school in the university, the passing of important legislature on stock-farming, 380 lectures throughout the globe on historical, scientific and veterinarian topics and numerous other innovations which unfortunately the Greek government never implemented.

Manias’ discoveries proved four important things. First, that the Egyptian pyramids were built by the Greeks, if not using the knowledge of the Greeks. Second, that the Greek language is unlike any other language in the world. It is an artificial language built by sages on mathematical principles. Third, that the Greek language expresses a wise science which dates back to a world that existed thousands of years ago before its disappearance. Hence the Greek language, as well as the Greek race, is much more ancient than currently asserted by conventional history. Finally, the Greek language is a massive library of incredibly ancient mathematical symbolism, an archive of the past of the civilization of man.

Manias believed that if one studied the ancient Greek language and deciphered it correctly (s)/he would gain the golden keys for the ancient spiritual paradise and would repair the damage that was done to humanity by the great fire of the Library of Alexandria. Manias’ work was continued by many of his spiritual successors and is to this day.

Bibliography

1. Manias, Theophanis. The Holy Geometry of the Greeks and the Mathematical Structure of the Greek Language. Athens: Pyrinos Kosmos, 2006. Print.

Ion Dragoumis

Statesman, Diplomat, Philosopher, Writer (1878 – 1920)

Ion Dragoumis is the “Father of Hellenic Nationalism”. With his work as writer and diplomat he became the leading figure, organizer and inspirer of the Macedonian Struggle during the beginning of the 20^th century. A flaming patriot and revolutionary, Dragoumis was a prominent supporter of the Megali Idea (Great Idea) and envisioned a Greater Greece in which all the Greeks could live together united as one and free. His pure motivations, continuous struggles and his assassination proved that he was an intellectual diplomat and one of the very few great politicians of Modern Greek history.

Dragoumis’ ethnic work began in 1902 when he served as consul in Bitola. He also served as consul in Alexandria, Dedeagatch and Constantinople. In Constantinople he founded the “Organization of Constantinople” with the purpose of communication and co-operation of all ethnicities subjugated to the Ottoman Empire, regardless of religion, and their peaceful development under a common Greek element. Afterwards he went to Bulgaria where he served as vice consul in Philippoupolis. Together with his brother-in-law Pavlos Melas, he organized the orthodox communities against the Bulgarian forces. Moreover, he organized a conference in 1911 for the reclaiming of the Dodecanese from the Italians. During the Balkan Wars, Dragoumis enlisted in the army and together with Victor Dousmanis and John Metaxas they negotiated over the surrender of Thessaloniki to Greece. He was elected member of the Parliament in 1915 and would frequently express his nationalistic ideas through newspapers, magazines and books that he wrote, prompting the Greeks to reawaken and embrace the dawn of New Hellenism.

Ion Dragoumis represented the major exponent of Greek nationalism. His numerous works and his actions prove that he was a patriot not just in words but in actions as well, for every move he made was in accordance to his nationalistic beliefs. Dragoumis’ nationalism was not like communism, fascism or any other kind of pseudonationalism of modern day’s society. It originated from the Greek Civilization and placed the Greek as an individual in its epicenter. The modern Greek was part of the Greek race that had retained all its special characteristics and values throughout the ages of its existence. Dragoumis firmly believed in the spiritual Renaissance of the Greek nation (which is the topic of his magnum opus «Ὅσοι Ζωντανοί» (Hosi Zontani)), the continuation and evolution of the Greek heritage, the values of direct democracy and in a nation of freedom. If based on the Greek traditions, language and way of life, the Greeks could once again thrive. Furthermore he did not reject the influence of other nations nor did he consider them as a negative influence toward Greece. For him, the Greek race and the Greek nation are one and the same.

Originally a proponent of Eleutherios Venizelos, Dragoumis turned against him as he saw that his political motivations were against the betterment of Greece. His actions resulted to his exile by the Venizelic government in Scopelos. On July 31^st, 1920, just one day after the assassination attempt of Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos, Ion Dragoumis was murdered by the Venizelic security battalions in Athens. His assassination deprived Greece of one of its most valuable statesmen and most dedicated patriots.

Bibliography

1. “Dragoumis, Ion”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
2. ION DRAGOUMIS. Greece.com. Web. September 3, 2016.
3. Ίων Δραγούμης ο πατέρας του Ελληνικού Εθνικισμού!. Antepithesi.gr. Web. September 3, 2016.

Nicephorus Lytras

Painter (1832 – 1904)

One of the greatest Greek painters in modern history and the main representative of the School of Munich. Nicephorus Lytras was born in Tynos as the son of a sculptor. At the age of 18 he went to study art in Athens under the supervision of Ludwig Thiersch, who acknowledged young Lytras’ talent and took him as an assistant hagiographer in the church of St. Nicodemus of Russia.

During the following years, Lytras earned a scholarship to study art in the University of Munich. There he met the influential Karl von Piloty and his compatriot painter Nikolaos Gyzis. His primary influences were Greek history and mythology. His works Execution of Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople, The Blowing up of Nasuh Ali Pasha’s Flagship by Kanaris, Antigone in front of dead Polynikes, Medea and Penelope provide a prime example of his authentic personality which remained intact all those years throughout his life. In fact, Piloty’s admiration for Lytras’ paintings was so great that he called Lytras a direct descendent of Apelles. Upon returning to Greece he joined the faculty of Fine Arts in the University of Athens, which he served for 38 consecutive years. Almost all of the Greek painters of the first decades of the 20^th century were students of Lytras.

Aside from historical and mythological themes, Lytras’ most prominent theme in his paintings is the simplicity and beauty of modern every-day life. The painter depicted the little things that surrounded people’s every-day lives mixed with the Greek element. These small events are what form the human existence and which Lytras immortalized with profound depth and uniqueness. The figures appear silent but full of expression and feelings painted in their faces. Such paintings include The Kiss, Return from the Bazar, The Greek Sale, A Moment of Rest, The Milkman, The Egg of Easter, The Waiting, Carols, The Naughty Grandchild, the Cookery, Motherhood and Gril by the River. Notable portraits painted by Lytras are King Otto, Queen Amalia, Chris the Nigger, Th. Deliyannis, Kalligas, George Stavrou, Serpieres, Rizaris, Michael Bodas and himself. Many of his paintings were highly acclaimed and awarded with the highest honours.

As a painter, Nicephorus Lytras cannot be strictly categorized under one movement nor can his students. His art is of no need for long pseudophilosophic wordiness or intricate explanations. As Plato said: “Art is the mirror of the soul”, and for this reason, Lytras’ paintings speak to one’s soul, filling them with happiness.

Bibliography

1. “Lytras, Nikiforos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
2. ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΣ ΛΥΤΡΑΣ. Texni-zoi.blogspot.gr. Web. September 2, 2016.
3. Νικηφόρος Λύτρας: Ο «γενάρχης» της νεοελληνικής ζωγραφικής. Tvxs.gr. Web. September 2, 2016.

Eugenios Spatharis

Shadow puppeteer (1924 – 2009)

The most prominent and influential shadowplayer in Greece, a man who gave up his architectural studies to dedicate himself to the art of Karagiozis, recognized as the hero of children to some and the “Father of Karagiozis” to others. As a young enthusiast and painter, Spatharis quickly followed his father’s footsteps, who was a prominent shadow puppeteer himself, and became an original animator of the folk hero Karagiozis, whom he uplifted, exalted and popularized as a form of art worldwide.

From 1942 to 1950 Spatharis travelled around Greece performing in various theatres and festivals. His debut outside of Greece is traced as far back as 1953 when he performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, Cuba and Canada. In 1954 he performed at the World Conference and Festival of Shadow Theatre in Brussels and in 1959 at the International Festival of Shadow Theatre in Paris. In 1962 he published his first records of Karagiozis for Columbia Company while in 1966 Spatharis began broadcasting his performances in the Peiramatikos Stathmos Tileorasis channel, which continued until 1992. He continued his work by performing in the Festival of Eastern Countries in Poland, London, Germany and Denmark while simultaneously exhibiting his shadow figures. Moreover, he toured the Netherlands, Cyprus, France, Sweden, Italy and Russia participating in multiple international shadow theatre festivals. Numerous awards followed.

Spatharis was a man of many hobbies; he acted, he sang, he wrote plays, books and painted. He collaborated with various notable Greek artists of the 20^th century during his career, namely with Manos Hadjidakis, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Melina Merkouri, Thanasis Veggos and Manos Xarchakos. He wrote the script for numerous plays such as “Karagiozis the Dictator”, “Athanasios Diakos”, “Our Great Circus” and “Alexander”, the latter which was an immense success in Greece, while in some others he acted himself. Furthermore, he appeared in many films and TV commercials where he voiced Karagiozis.

By the end of the 20^th century Spatharis had made Karagiozis into a worldwide spectacle adored by children and adults alike. He was invited to the Universities of London, Oxford and Cambridge as a lecturer on the art of Karagiozis. He was also invited to teach the art of shadow theatre in France. He founded the School of Shadow Theatre in Denmark while the Municipality of Amarousion in Athens founded the Spathareion Museum of Shadow Theatre in his memory exhibiting his works in an effort to teach the youth what Karagiozis represents in modern Greece’s history.

In his later years, Eugenios Spatharis, “The Master” as he came to be known became highly respected among the artistic and even the literary community, earning the admiration of Angelos Sikelianos. In 2002 the Cultural Organization of Lemessos in Cyprus organized a theatrical play entitled “Spatharis the Greek” featuring himself as the protagonist in his honour. In 2007 he was awarded a golden plaque by the Ministry of Culture for his contributions in Greek folk tradition and Greek civilization, spanning a total of 65 years of love, dedication and creativity.

Bibliography

1. Spathareio Museum of Shadow Theatre Municipality of Maroussi. Eugenios Spatharis the Shadowplayer. Karagiozismuseum.gr. August 18, 2016. Web.
2. ”Γεννήθηκε ο Ευγένιος Σπαθάρης, που παράτησε την αρχιτεκτονική για χάρη του Καραγκιόζη”. mixanitouxronou.gr. 29 Sep. 2015. Web. 18 Aug. 2015.
3. Ευγένιος Σπάθαρης: Ο γνήσιος τροβαδούρος της λαϊκής παράδοσης. Tvxs.gr. August 18, 2016. Web.

Odysseus Elytis

Poet (1911 – 1996)

The major representative of romantic modernism in Greece, Elytis was one of the most notable writers of the generations of the 30s’, an influential literary school which included Georgios Seferis, the first Greek Noble Prize winner, in Literature. He is considered one of the greatest poets of modern Greece and of the entire world.

Odysseus Elytis was born in Crete. His original surname was Alepoudelis but once he became a literary figure he changed it to Elytis to avoid relation with his family’s soap business. His surname, El-, a prefix found in many Greek words such as El-pdia (hope), El-ia (olive) and El-eutheria (freedom), -y-, a letter originating and found only in the Greek language and the suffix –tis from Greek surnames such as Πολίτης meaning citizen, was carefully constructed by the poet to designate the Greek influence. He studied chemistry and later law in the University of Athens but later dropped out as he dedicated himself to literature and poetry.

In the 1930’s Elytis made his literary debut in the magazine Νέα Γράμματα (New Letters) by publishing his first poem titled Τοῦ Αἰγαίου (Of the Aegean) under the name Elytis. In 1936 he met Nikos Gatsos, with whom he formed a strong bond of friendship. With the outbreak of the 2^nd World War, Elytis published his poetic collection Orientations. He joined the army and fought in the first line in the Greco-Italian war of 1940. His experiences inspired him to write his second poetic collection A Heroic And Funeral Chant For The Lieutenant Lost In Albania. He left Greece during the civil war and settled in France where he was introduced to the literary world of France and all its representatives.

In 1952 he returned to Greece. 7 years later he published his masterpiece Axion Esti (Ἄξιον Ἐστί, It is Worthy). A sacred moment for Hellenism. The gates of the world opened for him. The poem is the apogee of the ethical and spiritual struggles of the Greek race throughout the ages. In 1964 Mikis Theodorakis set Axion Esti to music making it popular enough for Elytis and Theodorakis to earn worldwide recognition. His entire life remained creative as he continued writing poems until 1991. His last poem was The Elegies of Oxopetras.

He was a frugal man who, in spite of his family’s close relations with politics never got actively involved with the commons. He rejected any offers to join political parties and rejected the position of honorary Academic in the Academy of Athens. He detested life associated with commerce and the acquisition of money. His poetry was involved with modern Hellenism and aimed at its spiritual and ethical revival. His poems were translated into 11 languages. Aside from his numerous poetic collections, Elytis translated works, mostly from French and painted.

In 1979 Odysseus Elytis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for his poetry, which, against the background of Greek tradition, depicts with sensuous strength and intellectual clear-sightedness modern man’s struggle for freedom and creativeness”.

Bibliography

1. Odysseus Elytis – Biographical. Nobelprize.org. August 8, 2016. Web.
2. Οδυσσέας Ελύτης – Βιογραφία. Sansimera.gr. August 8, 2016. Web.
3. ”Odysseus Elytis.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.