Literature & Museum – Hellenic Republic

Odysseas Elytis is a leading figure in Greek literature and one of the world's most important 20^th century poets.

Born on 2 November 1911, he spent most of his life in Athens, where his family moved in 1914. Lesbos, his island of origin, Crete, his birthplace, and Spetses and the Cyclades, where Elytis spent his childhood summers, left an indelible mark on him.

Later, this influence led the poet to come into contact with contemporary artistic trends, particularly with surrealism. This gave birth to a poetry which was full of lyrical images and universal values. His main endeavour has been to succeed in approaching the mystery of light, which he defined as “the metaphysic of the sun”.

He introduced the technique of “inner architecture”, which is evident in many of his works, particularly in “The Axion Esti”. This work – thanks to its musical setting by Mikis Theodorakis – was to be widely disseminated among all Greeks and became a kind of new gospel for the people.

In 1979, Elytis was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the second Greek poet after Giorgos Seferis to receive this honour.

In November 2024, on the occasion of his 113^th birth anniversary, the Elytis’ House Museum opened its doors to the public. Its aim is to serve the basic concepts of Elytis’ thought by organising a singular exhibition that enables the visitor to approach the ideas, lyrical images, simplicity and aesthetic of the poet.

The museum has been structured along two lines for this purpose: to present information concerning the life and work of Odysseas Elytis and to initiate visitors into the workings of poetry through their personal experience and their relationship with the surroundings and the authentic documents.

Bonus Trivia!

• His first appearance as a poet was in 1935 through the magazine “Nea Grammata” (“New Culture”).
• Elytis settled in Paris during the years 1948-1952 and 1969-1972. There, he met the pioneers of the world's avant-garde, including Matisse, Picasso and Chagall.

Sources & images taken from:

• https://www.elytishousemuseum.gr/en
• https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1979/elytis/biographical/
• https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1979/elytis/diploma/

Image No 3: Nobel Prize diploma awarded to Odysseus Elytis on 10 December 1979. Artist: Gunnar Brusewitz. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 1979 │ MLA style: Odysseus Elytis – Nobel diploma. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Tue. 26 Nov 2024.

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