Professor Vrassidas Karalis and Dr Tina Giannoukos will present the epic poem of Dionysios Solomos The Free Besieged, on Friday 23 April 2021, at 7.00pm, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Philosophical poem or romantic fable? Fragmented manifesto or grand vision od redemption? Hymn to death or chant to resurrection. The Free Besieged (Οι Ελεύθεροι Πολιορκημένοι) is an epic, unfinished work, composed by Dionysios Solomos and inspired by the third siege of Missolonghi (1825–1826), a crucial conflict of the Greek War of Independence.

It is not a single work, but consists of three separate poems in fragmentary form.
The Free Besieged is considered one of the greatest poems of Solomos, national poet of Greece.

The poem will be recited in Greek by Professor Vrasidas Karalis and by Dr Tina Giannoukos in English, while simultaneously debating aspects of it.

Tina Giannoukos has published two collections of poetry. Her second collection, Bull Days, was shortlisted in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and longlisted for the 2017 Australian Literature Society Gold Medal. She has a PhD in creative writing from the University of Melbourne.

Vrasidas Karalis teaches Modern Greek Studies at the University of Sydney where he holds the Sir Nicholas Laurantos Chair in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. He has published extensively on Byzantine historiography, Greek political life, Greek Cinema, European cinema, the work of Patrick White and contemporary political philosophy.

Come along and enjoy an evening of poetic ambience as we celebrate the bicentenary of Greek Independence.

Entry: $10, drinks and finger food will be offered, BOOK NOW, SEATING IS LIMITED - https://www.trybooking.com/BQLJO

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

IN PERSON:
To participate in person at the Greek Centre bookings are essential: BOOK NOW, SEATING IS LIMITED - cost: $10, drinks and finger food will be offered

ONLINE:
Just visit our Facebook or YouTube pages where we will be live-streaming the event.