Greek Literature

The Greek literature starts with Homère (eighth century BC) and it is prolonged until our days. Of course, in 28 centuries, the Greek language evolved/moved and the literature too.

By period

One distinguishes usually several periods:

  1. antiquated Period , until the beginning of fifth century BC: Homère, Hésiode, lyric poets (Alcée, Sappho, Pindare, Archiloque de Paros, Tyrtée, Alcman, Sémonide d' Amorgos, etc).

  2. traditional Period , with 5th and fourth century BC, that of the great tragedies (Eschyle, Sophocle, Euripide), of Plato, Aristote, Démosthène, in short of the old authors most known.
  3. hellenistic Period , of died of Alexandre Large the at first century BC, marked by the birth of the philological critical , the development of the epicureanism and the Stoicism, and a taste pronounced for poetry (Callimaque de Cyrène, Apollonios of Rhodos, Théocrite). It is also the period of drafting of the Seventy.
  4. Roman Period : 1st front century J. - C. at 3rd century a. J. - C., marked by the decline of poetry, the rise of the history and the geography (Strabon, Denys d' Halicarnasse, Plutarque) and the institutionalized teaching of philosophy.
  5. late Period , of the 3rd century to the VII {{E}} century after J. - C.. The conversion of the emperor Constantin I {{er}} sounds the one era beginning of deep changes, marked by the rise of the Christian literature (works patristics of Eusèbe de Césarée, Ignace d' Antioche, Clément of Alexandria) and the decline of the pagan hellenism (Julien the Apostate, Libanios).
  6. Byzantine Period , until in 1453, date of the catch of Constantinople by the Turks. One can quote of this period Procope de Césarée, Zonaras, Constantin Porphyrogénète, Photios Ier of Constantinople, Planude, Anne Comnène, Gémisthe Pléthon.
  7. Period under Turkish domination , until the beginning of the 19th century. Works of this period are often anonymous (popular songs and poems).
  8. modern Period , after the revolution of 1821, where the Greek literature knows a revival. Among the principal authors of this period (until the beginning XXe): Dionýsios Solomós, Andreas Kalvos, Kostís Palamás, Emmanuel Roïdis, Alexandros Papadiamandis, Angelos Sikelianos, Kostas Karyotakis.
  9. 20th century : The names of Constantin Cavafy, Níkos Kazantzákis, Stratis Tsirkas, Dimitris P. Kraniotis, Yánnis Rítsos, Georges Séféris and Odysséas Elýtis are particularly famous, these two last having been rewarded by the Nobel Prize for literature.

By kind

lyric Poetry and epopee

Tragedy and comedy

Rhetoric

History and mythography

Novel

See too

Related articles

  • Phrases and Greek expressions

  • ancient Literature;
  • Characters of the Greek theater;
  • List of the philosophers per year of birth;
  • Speakers attics;
  • List of poets of Greek language;
  • List of authors of modern Greek literature.

External bonds

  • Translations of Greek and Latin authors available on the fabric: Bibliotheca classica selected, site of the catholic University of Leuwen.

  • '' the first four centuries Christian Greek Literature of our era '', by Anne-Marie Malingrey, Professor emeritus at the university Charles de Gaulle Lille-III.

  • Bibliography: " signets" national library of France relating to the language and the literature Greek modern.

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