Andreas Laskaratos
Encyclopedia
Andreas Laskaratos was a satirical poet and writer from the Ionian island of Cefalonia or [Kefallinia]. He was excommunicated by the Greek Orthodox Church
because his satire targeted many of the church's eponymous members.
in 1811, at the time when the Ionian islands
were moving from the French to the British as a protectorate
. He was considered to be highly spirited by nature, intelligent and glib. He was intensely satirical and constant in his views, publishing works which contrasted the views of his time. The fact that he did not hesitate to freely express his views by criticizing hypocrisy became the main reason behind his arrest and imprisonment, persecutions, and excommunication by the church.
He lived through the entire process of unification of the Ionian islands
with mainland Greece
, and fought against the beliefs of the radical groups for unconditional surrender of the Ionian islands
to Greece
. During his persecution he lived at times in Corfu
, Zakynthos
, London
and Argostoli
, where he died in 1901.
Being brought up in a wealthy aristocratic family of land-owners, he studied law in Paris
, but only practised law when he was in financial need. He was the student of the great poet Andreas Kalvos
and also met Greece's 'national poet' Dionysios Solomos
, both of whom influenced his later course. He worked as a journalist and published poetry but is more well known as a writer of satire. He married to Penelope Korgialeniou (Πηνελόπη Κοργιαλένιου), also from a wealthy family, who bore him two sons and seven daughters. His niece Eleni Lambiri
was a conductor, librettist and composer.
He published several satirical newspapers such as Lychnos (Λύχνος) that criticized immorality, injustice and hypocrisy. On many occasions he turned against politicians and their incompetence while he also fought against religious prejudices and the corruption of religious authority.
His main works include:
"*Apokrisi ston aforismo (Απόκριση στον αφορισμό) "Response to aphorism"
Parts of the article were based on the content of the website http://www.kefalonitis.com (and are published under permission).
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
because his satire targeted many of the church's eponymous members.
Biography
Andreas Laskaratos was born in LixouriLixouri
Lixouri is the main town on the peninsula of Paliki in the island of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of western Greece. Lixouri is the second largest community in Kefalonia after Argostoli and before Sami and is the capital of the small peninsula...
in 1811, at the time when the Ionian islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
were moving from the French to the British as a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. He was considered to be highly spirited by nature, intelligent and glib. He was intensely satirical and constant in his views, publishing works which contrasted the views of his time. The fact that he did not hesitate to freely express his views by criticizing hypocrisy became the main reason behind his arrest and imprisonment, persecutions, and excommunication by the church.
He lived through the entire process of unification of the Ionian islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
with mainland Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and fought against the beliefs of the radical groups for unconditional surrender of the Ionian islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. During his persecution he lived at times in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Argostoli
Argostoli
Argostoli is a town and a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kefalonia, of which it is a municipal unit...
, where he died in 1901.
Being brought up in a wealthy aristocratic family of land-owners, he studied law in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but only practised law when he was in financial need. He was the student of the great poet Andreas Kalvos
Andreas Kalvos
Andreas Kalvos was a contemporary of Dionysios Solomos and one of the greatest Greek writers of the 19th century. Paradoxically enough, no known portrait of his survives today.-Biography:...
and also met Greece's 'national poet' Dionysios Solomos
Dionysios Solomos
Dionysios Solomos was a Greek poet from Zakynthos. He is best known for writing the Hymn to Liberty , of which the first two stanzas, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, became the Greek national anthem in 1865...
, both of whom influenced his later course. He worked as a journalist and published poetry but is more well known as a writer of satire. He married to Penelope Korgialeniou (Πηνελόπη Κοργιαλένιου), also from a wealthy family, who bore him two sons and seven daughters. His niece Eleni Lambiri
Eleni Lambiri
Eleni Lambiri was a Greek conductor and composer. She was born in Athens, the daughter of composer Gorgios Lambiris and niece of poet Andreas Laskaratos...
was a conductor, librettist and composer.
He published several satirical newspapers such as Lychnos (Λύχνος) that criticized immorality, injustice and hypocrisy. On many occasions he turned against politicians and their incompetence while he also fought against religious prejudices and the corruption of religious authority.
His main works include:
- Ta mistiria tis Kefalonias (Τα μυστήρια της Κεφαλονιάς) "The mysteries of Cephalonia"
- Idou o anthroposIdou o anthroposIdou o anthropos , written in 1886, is a work by poet and writer Andreas Laskaratos...
i anthrwpinoi charaktires (Ιδού ο άνθρωπος ή ανθρώπινοι χαρακτήρες) "Ecce homo or human characters" - Poiimata kai anekdota (Ποιήματα και ανέκδοτα) "Poems and anecdotes"
- Oi katadromes mou eksaitias tou lichnou (The troubles Lychnos caused me)
"*Apokrisi ston aforismo (Απόκριση στον αφορισμό) "Response to aphorism"
- Aftoviografia (Αυτοβιογραφία) "Autobiography"
Anecdotal Incidents
- At his birthday, a neighbour in order to make fun of him sent him a basket full of goat's horns (implying his wife's adultery) with the inscription "For your birthday". Laskaratos replied by sending him a basket full of flowers: "One can only give away what one has in plenty".
Published works
- Poiimata (Ποιήματα) "Poems", ed. Φέξης, Athens, 1916
- Stochasmoi (Στοχασμοί) "Ponderings", ed. Γανιάρης και Σία (Ganiaris et co.), 1921
- Ithi, ethima kai doksasies tis Kefalonias (Ήθη, έθιμα και δοξασίες της Κεφαλλονιάς) "Ways, mores and beliefs of Cephalonia", ed. Ελευθερουδάκης, Athens, 1924
- Aftoviogrfafia (Αυτοβιογραφία) "Autobiography", ed. Δημητράκος, Athens, 1927
- Ta pathimata kai oi paratiriseis mou stis filakes tis kefalonias (Τα παθήματά μου και οι παρατηρήσεις μου στις φυλακές της Κεφαλλονιάς) "My misfortunes and observations in the jail of Cephalonia", ed. Κοντομάρης και Σία, Athens, 1930
- Techni tou dimigorein kai singrafein (Τέχνη του δημηγορείν και συγγράφειν) "Art of declaiming and writing", ed. Κολιατσάδα, Athens, 1954
- Poiimata (Ποιήματα), ed. Μαρής, Athens, 1958
- Apanta (3 volumes) (Άπαντα) "Omnibus", Athens, 1959
- Viografika mou enthimimata (Βιογραφικά μου ενθυμήματα) "My biographical rememberings", Athens, 1966
- Idou o anthropos (Ιδού ο άνθρωπος), ed. Πάπυρος, Athens, 1969
- Idou o anthropos (Ιδού ο άνθρωπος), ed. Ερμής, 1970
- Ena anekdoto poiima (Ένα ανέκδοτο ποίημα) "An unpublished poem", ed. Κείμενα, 1976
- Poiimata (Ποιήματα), ed. Μαρής, Athens, 1976
- Aftoviografia (Αυτοβιογραφία), ed. Γνώση, Athens, 1983
- Idou o anthropos (Ιδού ο άνθρωπος), ed. Νέος σταθμός, Athens, 2001
External links (in Greek)
Parts of the article were based on the content of the website http://www.kefalonitis.com (and are published under permission).