In May 1936, Ritsos had read about the great strike and demonstration of the tobacco workers of Thessaloniki in the newspaper Rizospastis. The peaceful protest had been drowned in blood by the dictatorial government of Ioannis Metaxas, with a total of twelve dead workers. The article included a photograph depicting a mother mourning over her dead child. This photo had a huge impact on Ritsos, and inspired him to write the poem:
I was locked in the attic of my house for two days and nights and I was writing, without eating and sleeping, on the third day, I couldn't stand it, I started to collapse...
He then delivered the first three poems to Euthyfronas Iliadis, who published them in Rizospastis.
Editionsedit
The poem first appeared as a work of 44 verses in Rizospastis on 12 May 1936, with a dedication to the workers of Thessaloniki. Soon after, a fuller version of 224 verses was published.
A first edition of 10,000 copies sold out almost entirely, a record number for these years.[3] However, in August 1936 Ioannis Metaxas established the anti-communist 4th of August Regime, and the 250 remaining copies were burned at the Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens,[4] along with other "subversive" books.
The final text was published in a second edition in 1956, and runs to 324 verses divided into 20 parts or cantos, each with 16 verses in eight couplets, except for the last two, which run to 15 verses in nine couplets.[5]
"Epitaphios" is Ritsos' most celebrated poem,[3] as well as the work that made him known to the public.
Musical settingedit
In 1960, composer Mikis Theodorakis set the poem to music. His composition combines "elements of the old Byzantine traditions, based on church plainsong and the Greek modes, with folk music and its more recent vocal and instrumental styles".[6] With Grigoris Bithikotsis (vocals) and Manolis Chiotis (bouzouki), the recording featured two famous Rembetiko masters. Due to the seemingly popular style, Ritsos' 'high-art' lyrics became well known to Greeks across all social classes.[7]
Referencesedit
^efimeris.nlg.gr: Newspaper Rizospastis (10 May 1936), pg. 1: The original photograph.
^(in Greek) YiannisRitsos.gr: Poetry Works of Yiannis RitsosEpitaphios (1936), Athens, publisher Rizospastis.
^ abSykka, Iota. "Yiannis Ritsos's 'Epitaphios,' a song that both united and divided Greeks". Kathimerini (English Edition). Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^The New York Times, Yannis Ritsos, a Greek Poet, 81; Wrote Verse Inspired by Politics (14 November 1990), New York.
^The Irish Times, An anthem confined to home (18 June 1996), Dublin.
^Williams, John. "Three Epitafios". LA Phil. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^Mouyis, Angelique (2010). Mikis Theodorakis: Finding Greece in His Music. Athens, Greece: Kerkyra Publications. ISBN9789608386983.
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epitaphios, ritsos, epitaphios, greek, Επιτάφιος, epitaph, poem, yiannis, ritsos, published, 1936, epitaphios, giannis, ritsosthe, poem, inspired, this, picture, original, titleΕπιτάφιοςwritten1936, years, 1936, first, published, inrizospastiscountrygreecelang. Epitaphios Greek Epitafios Epitaph is a poem by Yiannis Ritsos published in 1936 2 Epitaphios by Giannis RitsosThe poem was inspired by this picture 1 Original titleEpitafiosWritten1936 88 years ago 1936 First published inRizospastisCountryGreeceLanguageGreekSeriesMoiroloiFormFuneral ProcessionPublication date8 June 1936 1936 06 08 Lines224 1st ed 324 2nd ed Contents 1 Inspiration 2 Editions 3 Musical setting 4 ReferencesInspiration editIn May 1936 Ritsos had read about the great strike and demonstration of the tobacco workers of Thessaloniki in the newspaper Rizospastis The peaceful protest had been drowned in blood by the dictatorial government of Ioannis Metaxas with a total of twelve dead workers The article included a photograph depicting a mother mourning over her dead child This photo had a huge impact on Ritsos and inspired him to write the poem I was locked in the attic of my house for two days and nights and I was writing without eating and sleeping on the third day I couldn t stand it I started to collapse He then delivered the first three poems to Euthyfronas Iliadis who published them in Rizospastis Editions editThe poem first appeared as a work of 44 verses in Rizospastis on 12 May 1936 with a dedication to the workers of Thessaloniki Soon after a fuller version of 224 verses was published A first edition of 10 000 copies sold out almost entirely a record number for these years 3 However in August 1936 Ioannis Metaxas established the anti communist 4th of August Regime and the 250 remaining copies were burned at the Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens 4 along with other subversive books The final text was published in a second edition in 1956 and runs to 324 verses divided into 20 parts or cantos each with 16 verses in eight couplets except for the last two which run to 15 verses in nine couplets 5 Epitaphios is Ritsos most celebrated poem 3 as well as the work that made him known to the public Musical setting editIn 1960 composer Mikis Theodorakis set the poem to music His composition combines elements of the old Byzantine traditions based on church plainsong and the Greek modes with folk music and its more recent vocal and instrumental styles 6 With Grigoris Bithikotsis vocals and Manolis Chiotis bouzouki the recording featured two famous Rembetiko masters Due to the seemingly popular style Ritsos high art lyrics became well known to Greeks across all social classes 7 References edit efimeris nlg gr Newspaper Rizospastis 10 May 1936 pg 1 The original photograph in Greek YiannisRitsos gr Poetry Works of Yiannis Ritsos Epitaphios 1936 Athens publisher Rizospastis a b Sykka Iota Yiannis Ritsos s Epitaphios a song that both united and divided Greeks Kathimerini English Edition Retrieved 2 September 2021 The New York Times Yannis Ritsos a Greek Poet 81 Wrote Verse Inspired by Politics 14 November 1990 New York The Irish Times An anthem confined to home 18 June 1996 Dublin Williams John Three Epitafios LA Phil Retrieved 2 September 2021 Mouyis Angelique 2010 Mikis Theodorakis Finding Greece in His Music Athens Greece Kerkyra Publications ISBN 9789608386983 nbsp This article related to a poem is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epitaphios Ritsos amp oldid 1084222200, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
