THE GREEK POET GEORGIOS ZALOKOSTAS AND HIS POEM ABOUT THE SIEGE OF MISSOLONGHI IN 1826: “TO MESOLOGGION”

Year 2022, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 311 - 380, 31.12.2022

Bülent Akyay

https://doi.org/10.30903/Balkan.1226425

Abstract

The Greek poet Georgios Zalokostas won an award for his long poem “To Mesologgion”, which deals with the siege of Missolonghi and the sortie of the besieged as a result of this siege and the fall of the city in 1826 as a historical event about. The poem in question is included in the First Athenian School, the first literary school of contemporary Greece, which was influential in Greece between the years 1830 and 1880. Indeed, after Greek independence, Greece’s main intellectual centers were the neighboring Ionian Islands and Athens, the capital of the new Greek Kingdom. During this period, while Greece was trying to create a new political, administrative and cultural life, the main element of the first literary school that emerged in the country was Romanticism. Some features of this school are the use of Katharevousa, the purest form of Modern Greek, the influence of French romanticism, pessimism and melancholy, rhetorical style, patriotic lyrical tone, and themes from the 1821 Greek Revolt.

Georgios Zalokostas (1805-1858), born in Ioannina Syrrako, one of the poets of the First Athenian School, emigrated to Italy with his family due to the pressures during the reign of Tepedelenli Ali Pasha, where he studied Italian and Greek literature, and the law. He returned to Greece when the Greek revolt started in 1821. Zalokostas fought against the Turks and took part in the siege of Missolonghi in 1826. His participation in the siege of Missolonghi and his participation in the sortie to leave the besieged city also makes him a witness of this historical event and this testimony gives his poem a special quality.

From 1851 to 1877, the intellectual life of Athens was dominated by poetry competitions, which became an important institution, proving the important place of poetry that occupied society. Zalokostas won the first prize in the “Ralleios” poetry competition organized by the University of Athens in 1851 with his poem “To Mesologgion”, which was about the Siege of Missolonghi in 1826. In this article, the Greek poet Georgios Zalokostas and his award-winning poem “To Mesologgion” will be examined within the framework of the mentioned literary school in the history of contemporary Greek literature. While the Siege of Mesolongi in 1826 is dealt with from a historical perspective, the geographical space, elements of Greek mythology, elements of Christianity, historical figures in the siege, and the “other” in the poem will be evaluated and discussed thematically

Keywords

Yunanistan, Çağdaş Yunan Edebiyatı, Birinci Atina Ekolü, Mesolongi Kuşatması, Greece, Greece, Greece, Greece, Georgios Zalokostas, Georgios Zalokostas, Contemporary Greek Literature, Contemporary Greek Literature, Contemporary Greek Literature, First School of Athens, First School of Athens, First School of Athens, Siege of Missolonghi, Siege of Missolonghi

YUNAN ŞAİR GEORGİOS ZALOKOSTAS VE 1826 MESOLONGİ KUŞATMASI HAKKINDAKİ ŞİİRİ: “TO MESOLOGGİON”

Abstract

Yunan şair Georgios Zalokostas, Mesolongi kuşatması ve 1826 yılında da bu kuşatma neticesinde kuşatılanların çıkış hareketini ve şehrin düşmesine dair tarihî bir olayı ele alan “To Mesologgion” adlı uzun şiiri ile ödül kazandı. Söz konusu şiir Çağdaş Yunanistan’ın ilk edebî ekolü olan Birinci Atina Ekolü dâhilinde yer almaktadır ki bu ekol 1830-1880 yılları arasında Yunanistan’da etkili oldu. Nitekim Yunan bağımsızlığından sonra, Yunanistan’ın temel entelektüel merkezleri komşu İyon Adaları (Yedi Adalar) ve yeni Yunan Krallığı’nın başkenti Atina idi. Bu dönemde yeni bir siyasi, idari ve kültür hayatı oluşturmak için çaba gösteren Yunanistan’ın ortaya çıkan ilk edebî ekolünün ana unsuru Romantizm olup bazı özellikleri Modern Yunanca’nın en saf hali olan Katharevousa’nın kullanımı, Fransız romantizminin etkisi, pesimizm ve melankoli, retorik tarz, vatansever lirik ton ve 1821 Yunan İsyanı sürecinden temalardır.

Birinci Atina Ekolü şairlerinden Yanya Syrrako doğumlu Georgios Zalokostas (1805-1858), Tepedelenli Ali Paşa dönemindeki baskılar üzerine ailesiyle İtalya’ya göç etmiş, burada İtalyan ve Yunan edebiyatları, ardından da hukuk tahsil etmişti. 1821’de Yunan ayaklanması başlayınca Yunanistan’a dönen Zalokostas Türklere karşı savaştı ve 1826 Mesolongi kuşatmasında yer aldı. Mesolongi kuşatmasında yer alması ve kuşatılmış şehirden çıkış hareketine katılması onu aynı zamanda bu tarihî olayın tanığı yapmakta ve bu durum şiirine ayrı bir nitelik kazandırmaktadır.

1851’den 1877 yılına kadar Atina’nın entelektüel hayatına, toplumda şiirin sahip olduğu önemli yeri kanıtlayan ve önemli bir kurum haline gelen şiir yarışmaları hâkimdi. Zalokostas, 1851 yılında Atina Üniversitesi’nin düzenlediği “Ralleios” şiir yarışmasının ilkinde 1826 Mesolongi Kuşatmasını konu alan “To Mesologgion” adlı şiiriyle ödül kazandı. Bu makalede çağdaş Yunan edebiyatı tarihinin adı geçen edebî ekolü çerçevesinde Yunan şair Georgios Zalokostas ve “To Mesologgion” şiiri irdelenecektir. 1826 Mesolongi Kuşatması tarihî açıdan incelenirken, şiirin coğrafî mekânı, Yunan mitolojisine ait unsurlar, Hristiyanlığa ait unsurlar, kuşatmada yer alan tarihî şahsiyetler ve şiirdeki “öteki” gibi temalar değerlendirilecek ve ele alınacaktır.

Keywords

Yunanistan, Yunanistan, Çağdaş Yunan Edebiyatı, Çağdaş Yunan Edebiyatı, Birinci Atina Ekolü, Birinci Atina Ekolü, Mesolongi Kuşatması, Mesolongi Kuşatması, Greece, Greece, Greece, Greece, Georgios Zalokostas, Georgios Zalokostas, Georgios Zalokostas, Georgios Zalokostas, Contemporary Greek Literature, Contemporary Greek Literature, Contemporary Greek Literature, Contemporary Greek Literature, First School of Athens, First School of Athens, First School of Athens, First School of Athens, Siege of Missolonghi, Siege of Missolonghi, Siege of Missolonghi, Siege of Missolonghi

References

• AGAPİTOS, Agapitos S., Οι Ένδοξοι Έλληνες του 1821, ή Οι Πρωταγωνισταί της Ελλάδος, Τυπογραφείον Α. Σ. Αγαπητού, Εν Πάτραις 1877.
• Ahmed Lûtfî, Vak’anüvîs Ahmed Lûtfî Efendi Tarihi, C. I, Tarih Vakfı Yurt Yayınları, İstanbul 1999.
• BEATON, Roderick, Εισαγωγή στη Νεότερη Ελληνική Λογοτεχνία, Ποίηση και Πεζογραφία 1821-1992, (μετάφραση) Ευαγγελία Ζουργού, Μαριάννα Σπανάκη, Εκδόσεις Νεφέλη, Αθήνα 1996.
• BEYDİLLİ, Kemal, “Reşid Mehmed Paşa”, Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, Cilt 35, İstanbul 2008, ss. 12-14.
• BREWER, David, The Greek War of Independence: The Struggle for Freedom from Ottoman Oppression, Overlook Duckworth, London 2011.
• DAPOUDANİ, Alexandra Marina, Çağdaş Yunan Edebiyatında Birinci Atina Ekolü (1830-1880) ve Atina Romantik Akım Şiirlerinde Pesimizm, Trakya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Balkan Çalışmaları Anabilim Dalı, Yayımlanmamış Doktora Tezi, Danışman: Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Bülent Akyay, Edirne 2021.
• DİMARAS, Κ. Th., Ιστορία της Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας, Από τις πρώτες ρίζες ως την εποχή μας, Εκδόσεις Γνώση, Αθήνα 2000.
• DİAMANTOYROY, İoanna, “Εξάπλωση της Επανάστασεως κατά τον Απρίλιο και τον Μαïο, Επέκταση και Ένταση των Πολεμικών Συγκρούσεων”, Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΒ΄, Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821-1832), Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 100-128.
• DOGANİS, Th., “Μεσολόγγιον”, Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική καί Ναυτική Ἐγκυκλοπαιδεία, Tόμος Τέταρτος, Καβάδης-Μωριάς, Αθήνα 1929, ss. 503-507.
• DRAGOMANNI, Francesco Gherardi, Per la caduta di Missolongi ai nemici della Grecia, Fabris, Firenze 1841.
• GARANTOUDİS, Euripidis, “Επτανησιακή Σχολή”, Λεξικό Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας. Πρόσωπα, Έργα, Ρεύματα, Όροι, Εκδόσεις Πατάκη, Αθήνα 2008, s. 678-680.
• ________, “Παλαιά Αθηναϊκή Σχολή”, Λεξικό Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας. Πρόσωπα, Έργα, Ρεύματα, Όροι, Εκδόσεις Πατάκη, Αθήνα 2008, ss. 1661-1663.
• GİANNOPOULOS, İoannis, “Η Επανάσταση κατά το 1823”, Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΒ΄, Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821-1832), Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 289-313.
• “İbrahim Paşa (Kavalalı)”, Yaşamları ve Yapıtlarıyla Osmanlılar Ansiklopedisi, C. 1, Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık, İstanbul 1999, ss. 636-637.
• Η Ποίηση της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης 1821, Ανθολόγηση, εισαγωγικές σημειώσεις, επιμέλεια, εργοβιογραφικά σημειώματα: Κώστας Σταμάτης, Εκδόσεις Πατάκη – Ανθολογίες, Αθήνα, Δεκέμβριος 2020.
• KASOMOULİS, Nikolaos K., Ενθυμήματα Στρατιωτικά της Επαναστάσεως των Ελλήνων 1821-1833, Εισαγωγή και Σημειώσεις Γιάννης Βλαχογιάννης, Τόμος Β΄, Χορηγία Παγκείου Επιτροπής, Αθήναι 1940.
• KELAĞA AHMET, İbrahim, DAPOUDANİ, Alexandra Marina, “Çağdaş Yunan Edebiyatında Yedi Adalar Ekolü Temsilcilerinin Şiirlerinde Romantizm”, Balkan Dilleri ve Edebiyatları Araştırmaları I, (ed.) İbrahim Kelağa Ahmet, Trakya Üniversitesi Balkan Araştırma Enstitüsü Yay., Edirne 2021, ss. 75-130.
• KURTOĞLU, Fevzi, Yunan İstiklal Harbi ve Navarin Muharebesi (Çengeloğlu Tahir Paşa), Cilt 1, Askeri Deniz Matbaası, İstanbul 1944.
• KUTLUOĞLU, Muhammet Hanefi, “İbrahim Paşa, Kavalalı”, Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, Cilt 21, İstanbul 2000, ss. 330-333.
• MCGREGOR, Andrew, A Military History of Modern Egypt, From the Ottoman Conquest to the Ramadan War, Praeger Security International, Westport, Connecticut 2006.
• Mehmed Esʻad Efendi, Vakʻanüvis Esʻad Efendi Tarihi, (neşr. haz.) Ziya Yılmazer, Osmanlı Araştırmaları Vakfı, İstanbul 2000.
• MOULLAS, Panayotis, Les Concours Poetiques de l’Université d'Athenes 1851-1877, Archives Historiques de la Jeunesse Grecque, Secrétariat Général à la Jeunesse, Athènes 1989.
• ÖRENÇ, Ali Fuat, Balkanlarda İlk Dram: Unuttuğumuz Mora Türkleri ve Eyaleten Bağımsızlığa Yunanistan, Babıali Kültür Yay., İstanbul 2009.
• “Per la caduta di Missolongi ai nemici della Grecia Ode di Francesco Gherardi Dragomanni / Τοις Εχθροίς της Ελλάδος κατά την πτώσην του Μεσσολογγίου Θρήνος Φραγκίσκου Γεράρδου Δραγομάνου”, μετάφραση Γ. Χ. Ζαλοκώστα, Τύποις Φ. Καραμπίνη και Κ. Βάφα, Αθήνησι 1851.
• POLİTİS, Linos, Ιστορία της Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας, Μορφωτικό Ίδρυμα Εθνικής Τραπέζης, Ζ΄ Έκδοση, Αθήνα 1993.
• SFYROERAS, Vasileios, “Τοπική Επικράτηση της Επανάστασεως”, Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΒ΄, Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821-1832), Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 173-199.
• ________, “Η Επανάσταση κατά το 1822”, Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΒ΄, Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821-1832), Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 212-286.
• STAUROPOULOU, Eri, Η Νεοελληνική Ποίηση και τα Εικοσιένα. Διάλογος με την Ιστορία, Εθνικό Ίδρυμα Ερευνών, Αθήνα 2022.
• Το Μεσολογγιον, υπό Γ. Χ. Ζαλοκώστα, εκ του Τυπογραφείου Κ. Αντωνιάδου, Εν Αθήναις 1851.
• VAKALOPOULOS, Apostolos, “Η Επανάσταση κατά το 1826”, Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΒ΄, Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821-1832), Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 408-436.
• VINGTRINIER, Aimé, Soliman-Pacha (colonel Sève) Généralissime des armées égyptiennes, ou Histoire des guerres de l'Égypte de 1820 à 1860, Librairie de Firmin Didot, Paris 1886.
• VITTI, Mario, Ιστορία της Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας, Εκδόσεις Οδυσσεας, Αθήνα 2003.
• YILMAZ, Mehmed, “Reşid Mehmet Paşa”, Yaşamları ve Yapıtlarıyla Osmanlılar Ansiklopedisi, C. 2, Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık, İstanbul 1999, ss. 456-457.
• ZALOKOSTAS, Georgios, Τα Άπαντα, υπό Ευγενιου Ζαλοκώστα, Τυπογραφείον Δ. Αθ. Μαυρομμάτη, Αθήνησι 1859, ss. 35-63.
• ________, Τα Άπαντα, υπό Ευγενιου Ζαλοκώστα, εκ του Τυπογραφείου των Αδελφών Περρή, Εν Αθήναις 1873, ss. 61-89.
• ________, Έργα, Συνεργασία Γ. Ε. Ζαλοκώστα, Βιβλιοπωλείον Ιωάννη Ν. Σιδέρη, Εν Αθήναις 1899, ss. 109-131.
• ________, Τα Άπαντα, Εκδοτικός Οίκος Γεώργιου Φέξη, Εν Αθήναις 1903, ss. 47-81.
• ZİRAS, Aleksis, ANAGNOSTOPOULOS, Vasilis D., “Ζαλοκώστας, Γεώργιος Χ.”, Λεξικό Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας. Πρόσωπα, Έργα, Ρεύματα, Όροι, Εκδόσεις Πατάκη, Αθήνα 2008.
• ZORAS, Georgios Th., Ο Ελληνικός Ρομαντισμός και οι Φαναριώται, Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών - Φιλοσοφική Σχολή, Αθήνα 1975, ss. 287-289.