Antonios Eparchos, Corfiot Poet ( 1491- 1571)

One thing leads to another. I was walking around Porta Remunda recently, wondering about the origin of some of the street names, like Eparchos street.

A little research lead me the poem, published in Venice in 1544, by Antonios Eparchos (1491-1571) “Gentilhomme de Corfu” , called “Eis tin Ellados katastrofin thrinos", or "Lament for the Fall (or Destruction) of Greece". A few brief extracts in English translation appear in “Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present” by Vasilios N. Makrides (p. 248-249).

The original (very difficult to understand) Greek version can be found on

http://openarchives.gr/view/212696

A fascinating poem by a Corfiot, lamenting the misfortunes of Greece.

In Makrides' translation, a few lines about the cruel fate of Greece:

"Give to its inhabitants the wisdom of the heart,
Which is the most precious possession of mortals,
and dispel from Greece the night that darkens it."

As Makrides points out, Modern Greek identity seems to have taken on "a more robust identity" at that time.

If anyone can translate more of the poem into English, they deserve a prize. I'm not even sure if it's written in Ancient or Modern Greek! Something intermediate, or his own post-Byzantine literary idiolect?

A challenge to all you linguists and scholars.