You are on page 1of 21
Aveview of Greek social, No 16 © SPRING o Mi. ineme: Thesselenild Fil Fesivel: Veuleciis, Reiei, leehiene C Wuster Eleni (erciheieu C iGicar Heshevitis, Alexcneiepeulls, Coleneld, Kerystical, Deva cee Iniciniews Sitcli-VGrcilela The litetery Magazine lexi LS ARS Nery To Hellenic Quarterly exdibeta1 amt ‘ny Aw Mij-Kepbooxorung Exaipla “HEIAGIA extde THE Eandac - Helerice® Noioxnrmng: Hellenica Exédrne: Zp AAEENG Acuddvrpia cai unedoum ug Ls 1ov EAN KS VOD Poa Kakkayayéx Zuvepysng AreuBuvir: Tedving MraoK6zog Zuvroxnin} cmrpon Féin Iivocayta-AleFnvSporoGo, AREER Zips, Tiapyog Koupoud, Tropyog Mapxéravhos, Kuvorartivoc Payes, Baeva Xoufoupn ‘Anwomies ZxE0tI6, Opyevean Nopayayris Kar Aravopric: Ta905 OKovopdrosAos (+3097 £02900) Art direction/atp: opto Miyona (+30946 055007) Exrineson: MATeIS Kopwipog HELLENGA™ H EnAGba extog me EAARDUG Auaduare nepiexonivur (copyright Hellenic Quartery lo tous ouyypape's Oka va Sixatucra éxouv ikatoxupie. Keveéva tu Img Napavoas exboans Bev ptopet vo avanpaxéei va onoOnKeutet ue onowdore avomnpo vanapeyayt, wotg Tv ade Tov exdsen, Exdoam ISSN 1108-345% Tundance ory EXidea, Arod\os 2003, HELLENIC QUARTERLY Kawhayavaxy Pouha Fekuyos 11, ABTA 115 21 TriVFax (003210) 6411982 (003210) 2139835 e-mail: Kaklamanaki@ath.forthnet.gr : anoikon@otenet.gr HELLENIC QUARTERLY | published vy the non-profit ganization “Gresce outside Greeze-tellenica” Publisher: Alexis Bras Ecitor responsible according to Greek Law: Roula Kakiarvanak\ Assoriate Editor: ‘Yannis Baskozos Etitorial Board: Sonia linskaya-Alexandropoulo, Alexis Zras, Giorgos Kourousos, Giorgos Markapouos, Konstantinas Rigos, Eton Houzoun Public Relations. Organising of Production and Distribution: Tasos Economopoulos (+86977 503900) A cireotionidta: Solia Michala (85946 055007) Printing: Miltades Kernaros Contents coprigt © HELLENIC QUARTERLY for the eutnors All rights reserved No partof this publication may be reareduced, stored in a retieval system, mechanical, photocepy, recording or otherwise, ‘without the pilor permission ofthe publisher Feition ISSN 1108-448X Printed in Greece, April 2003 5 EDITORIAL GREEK PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 9 Vasso Papandreou: The Environment is a Fundamental factor for Well-Be- ing and Quality of Life. 12 Makis Andronopoulos: The Invisible War Between the Dollar and the Euro, the Markets and the Greek Presidency. 15 Panos Kaza. kos: Contemplating Europe's Future. 27 Constantine A. Stephanou: Euro American Relations: Challenges for the Hellenic Presidency of the EU, 25 Dim. itris Koulourianos: The European Prize to Three Freedom Fighters. 27 Greek Presidency 2003 - Position Paper of the Greek Bussines Community. ATHENS 2004 435 Ioannis Spanoudakis: Post Olympics Utilisation of Works and Infrastruc ture Building on the Olympic Inheritanee). CULTURAL OLYMPIAD 39 Unie? and Cultural Olympiad Parmer to Vaceinate |.4 Million Children, INTERVIEWS 47 A Woman at an Engaged Post for Over Forty Years, A discussion between, Liana Paroussi and the Nursing Services Director of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Mrs. Angeliki Sifaki-Vassilaki, CINEMA Compiled and Introduced by Kostis Rigos: 45 Thessaloniki Film Festival. 46 ‘The Profile of the 43rd Festival. 47 New Greek Films Produced by the Greek Film Centre, Presented at the 43rd Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 57 Pandelis Voulgaris: An Attempt to Open New Roads in Greek Cinema. 53 Mi halis Dimopoulos: Pancelis Voulgaris: A Moviernaker of Loneliness. 55 Se- lected Reviews. 58 Aleka Paizi: A Grande Dame of Greek Theatre. 59 Extracts of Critical Appraisals. 67 Aleka Paizi in the Cinema, 62 Yannis Leontaris: A Very Promising Young Film Director. 63 Encomium: A Tribute to Slowness. MUSIC 67 Eleni Karaindrou. Biographical Note. 69 Giorgos V. Monemvasitis: Eleni Karaindrou: From Voyage to Cythera to Eternity. 71 Giorgos Haronitis: Mu- sic for an Eternity. 72 Selected Reviews. NON-FICTION 75 Kostas Papageorgiou: Spiros Plaskovitis: The Symbolic Substance of Things. ‘When Realism and Lyricism, Existential Anguish and High Intellectuality Blend ‘Happily. 77 Eri Stayropoulou: Mitsos Alcxandropoulos: Maximos the Greek A Proposal for the Renewal of the Historical Novel. 80 Alexis Ziras: Rhea Galanaki: Visible and Invisible Cycles. 83 Vangelis Hatzivassiliou: The Mem- ory of Blood. 85 Alexis Ziras: Happy People Have no History. FICTION £89 Spiros Plaskovitis: From: The Naval Cap. 91 Mitsos Alexandropoulos: Frei: Scenes from the Life of Maximos the Greck. 93 Rhea Galanaik: From: ‘The Age of Labyrinths. 97 Joanna Karystiani: From: Suit in the Ground, 700 Nikos Dayvetas: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back GREEK LITERARY MAGAZINES 103 Andonis Fostieris: The Birth and Maturity of Leai, 105 Alexis Ziras: The ‘Magazine Lexi as an Islet of Literature. 107 Theophilos in the Magazine Lex Extracts of articles in Issue No. 172 BOOKS AND AUTHORS 10 The EU's institutional future, 172 John Chioles (Yannis Tsiolis): From: Mythical Theatre, Political Voice: The Tragic Poet Aeschylus. Preface (ex: tract). 114 Sotiris Dimitriou; God Sermonizes Them. 175 Anghelos Sikelianos: Jerusalem, An Unpublished Diary (April-May 1921), 116 History of the Greek Language: From the Beginning to the End of Antiquity. Preface D.N. Maroni- tis 117 Dimitris Daskalopoulos - Maria Stassinopoulou: The Life and the Work of K.P. Cavafy, 178 Simone Kafiri: With Almonds, Walnuts and Honey - An Anthology of Greek Sweeis. 119 Pandelis B, Lekas: Playing With Time: Na- tionalism and Modernity. 120 Haralambos Bouras and Laskarina Boura: ‘Twelfth-Century Churches in Greece. 127 Despina Lala-Crist: The Exotic. 122 Gicrgis Massavetas: Feminine stories. 123 Evangelos A. Filippou: The Histo: ry of Contemporary Olympic Games 1896 - 2000. Their Apparent and Datk Stde, 124 Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, AGENDA. 125 Musical Events. 126 Cultural Olympiad Programme of Events for the Next Months, “The work with which the current issue is illustrated, are included in the Album "Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art” ‘Yongos Vatalo -Blue Moon, 1981 the language of countless messages that b:ings people togeth all over the world, whoever they are and whatever they Co; whether this unites them or divides them in aways sometimes immad- crate: Because wer neither unites nor divides. Was destroys lives, economies, cultures, institutions, and consciences ~ whatever exists and has a right to exist. Ordinary people, people in the Fields of culture and science, work: ersand visionaries, creative spirits and people generally, join their voic- es and say NO. They go even further, and emphasize how unjustifiable, outrageous, ctiminal, and riaous is the peading — and by all accounts ‘unavoidable - war on Ira, with the support of British Prime Minisier ‘Tony Blair. Good or bad Iraq, from the aspect of its government and system, isno different to other good or bad nations, cther governments, systems and interests, and lawful or unlawful powers according to in- ternational law. People everywhere, with only a few exceptions, are 1¢- acting against the war: But the protagonists of this imminent catas- ‘rophe are adamant. They are transformed into scareerows; into shame- fal caricatures of human existence; into prospective criminals accord- ing to internationel law and order, They think and act like tercorists, while presenting an anti-terrorist fagade that convinces no one. Intellectuals and artists have become the champions of 2 new re- sistance, which provides them with new inspiration and high quality of expression and action. As an example, we quote below a page from the Internet (http://iwww.nthposition,com), indicative of the positive aspects of new technology, World poeis against the war. 100 Poets against the war. 100 Poets aggzinst the war redux and 100 Poets against rhe war 3,0 were designed to be printed off, copied, dou- blessided and distributed as chapbooks. All the contributors donated Y et another NO against war. This time in a common language: HELLENIC QUARTERLY ; i i : their poems, so download the book, share it, put iton your own site- for others to shase, end e-mail it ro friends and colleagues. There have been readings trom Seattle io Oxtord, and peace and human rights groups are selling it to raise funds “109 Poets against the wae” was pethaps the speediest world poet. ry anthology ever — one week from siatt to finish (27 January). “100 Poets against the war redux”, its second edition, contained many new poems, so complemented sather then replaced the original. The third edition, “100 Poets against the war 3.0”, which fallowed one week lat- er, also contained magnificent new poems, (You'll need Adobe Acro bat — a free downoad —10 read them.) ‘Among the intellectuals (the only one, in favour of the war, it seems), appears the name of Frederick Forsyth. However, his sole ar. gument constitutes a contradiction to what he stands for: “Whoever thinks that Bush decided to attack a nation thousands af miles away without being provoked is a fool... He also persuaded Tony Blair to ally with him, and Blair is no fool, Pethaps the two of them know something that the rest of us don't know about." How is this for a “legitimate” excuse to wage war! Unless we are expected to believe that these two "experts" have the right to keep such a secret to themselves, and take action regardless of the consequences {or the lives of millions of people and the honour of entire humani- wy Roula Kaldamanaki, for the Beitorial Board, Rhea Calanaki FIGTiON, From: The Age of Labyrinths 1878 (exrnscr) The horse of Minos Kalokerinos, an Arabian mare of graceful build and delicate antes, a marvel sent directly by a Greek wholesale merchant from. Alexandria in payment against a shipload of scented soap from his soap factory, would bring ber rider at crack oF dawn out- side the walls of the town of Iraklion in Crete. Her smooth canter enabled some blind old mea, who begged their bread in the stieets, to discern that a horseman had just gone by, a Christian or Mus- lima Saint, But he passed so quickly, they didnt get the chance (0 touch hhis venerable shoes; 10 bey for mercy for sins that had reduced them to this: to hope for « miracle that would make them ce cover their sight Nowadays, Saints were like ‘wealthy Christians, like Agas: they darted away from an extended hand. But they went on hop: ing, because they couldn't forget the miracle of Saint Minas, the town's patron saint, which they had witaessed with their own eyes as children and perhaps that's why their later sins were nev- 1 forgiven, with the result that they were blind. ed, In a word, they had seen the Saint on his skewbald mare rushing to save the besieged Christians in the church fom being slaughtered by the Turks, having briefly assumed the count: nance of the most eminent Turk in Great Fortress, a6 Iraklion was known in chose days, Heviewic GuanTesty ‘Ayan Aga himself. Minos Kalokerinos’ mare, ignorant of such miracies and the admira- tion she inspired. brought her rider outside the fa- mous walls, turning. her pointed cars to hear sounds that only proud horses can commands, moans, oaths, neighing, clanging and cannonades, Sounds that haunted the walls of the city, under siege by the OF tomans for twenty-five years before capturing it from the Venetians. A siege, the duration of which was considered ‘wonder in the history af military blockades, both ‘hy these who knew and didn’t know about wars Mines Kalokerinos, himself a handsome man, took pride in his horse’s beauty; infact, he hoped that the mare, too, gloried in the faet that she had ‘him for a master, He had named her Dutcinea, re: jecting the common appelation of horses on the island —"‘and of women,” he chuckled under his ‘brown moustache. “What a strange name,” they whispered in the stable; and it seemed even strangerto the stable men that their master spoke s0 tenderly, so sweetly, (0 the mare, as houga she ‘were his sweetheart. Excepting, of course, when he was in one of his tantrums, fll of cares, in @ sea of troubles over his affaiss, ora thousand oth- er worries involving this city. In this city, whose high fortifications constricted you; this wasps’ nest where he wes destined to live (cursed Minos Kalokerinos); squashed together with six thou: sand Christians, fourteen thousand Muslims, 2 93 | Fierion hundred of so Roman Catholics, Armeaians, and Jews, whereas he longed for an open horizon. That of the sea, or a book, ‘That’s why he built bis marble home aloagthe walls, overlooking the sea, on the site of an old family abode desuoyed by an earthquake, and not in the heart of the ety, which would have been more convenient for is business: to be able to dream away while scan- ning the sea, and not check, like a customs in: spector, merchant and naval ships approaching the island, as practical mince will have suppose Once outside the walls, Minos Kelokerinos spuraed on to. hinterland full of sof, clay hills. Te was dawning, There were but a few clouds in the sky, and these drawn lowards Mount Psilori ‘is. The sea behind him was distancing, The white soll shone amid the short, twisted and leafless trunks in the vineyards. The green of olive reves played only with the silver hue: since the fruit had been beaten down months before, Scattered clus ter of pines, groups of eypresses, sparse fig trees, country churches and houses, slided on the hills undulation, while oleanders and reeds formed tufts in small armpits of eauth, Minos Kalokcrines galloped all the way to the height of Kefala, where twenty workers from the area, Christians and Mustims, waited him, along ‘with Christos Pepaoulakis, the teacher from the neighbouring village of Makri Tihos, who was to supervise the excavations. He gave his horse to a peasant, for him to tie it to a parasol pine a ltele beyond, dry it, water it, and Jeed it, He stoked the panting animal's neck; his hand got wet with ts warm sweat; the mare managed to turn and look at fim before they took her away. "A good omen,” Minos Kalokerinos thought, before bid- ding everyone goodmorning. He gathered them ina citele to explain what was each one's job, ‘They listened co him, and nodded to show that they already knew their duties from the teacher. ‘Ler's go, then,” said Minos Kalokerinos, and his voice trembled somewhat. The workers scattered jo their allotted places, taking with them hoes, -mattocks, and spades. The teacher turned to: ‘wards his boss, in awaitance of his instructions "Just a second," interrupted Minos Kalokerinos, He went up to one of the workers, took the mattock from his hands, ezossed himself, and de- Tivered the first blow on the grouind which, in his opinion, covered the ruins of Knosses 1078 (evict) ‘The frog made his way up Madares, inthe dis- ‘ict of Viannou, balancing his weight on the ruts of the dirt road. Ruts so deep, you'd think rai ronms and melted snows from the mountain tops hhad wreaked havoc on the road for mantis ~ hav coc that filled the road with ashen stones, the colour of hares, or carmine like the hea:t of a slaughtered animal. partridge intecrupted her , and stood motionless in the middle of a Santing rock, which, matching her wiags, hid her as she sauntered prouully along. She took « quick look at the fiog before vanishing among the feras in the large forest, unaware that tanslucent Sep- tember had already covered Jourteen of its thirty days; rhat today was the feast of the Holy Cross; that it was also tae nameday of the basil chyme which showed Saint Fleni what cross, in the maze of woodea crosses he had found, was Chnsi's. In the minds of wild birds the months had na names; there were no saints or miracles; the partridge remembered oaly that a while ago the spirits of the Forest were shaken by a barrage of volleys, of faint human voices in the distance, something between hurrah and lament. She may: have been Fosyetfil, bur a prey always remembers the sound of death. The hunting season may have ‘boqun, bur ts commencement was noe accompa nied by any such sound, The perennial pines around ber were never aimed at by hunters; they stood unconcerned; but the spirits of the farest vere shaken, and she'd better be on the alert The frog continued on his journey up the rough road leading to the new excavations sited aa Kria Vrissi, one thousand metres above sea ley- cl. A few years earlier, the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite was discovered here, thus identi- fying this Viannite summit with the ancient S1- ered Mountain of the geographer and astrologer Clauulius Prolemy. Hametis, the hideout of par- tisans during the Occupation, was not loo far away from the famous, for twenty-three long cen- lusies, sanctuary ~rusned and hidden for the next twenty-three centuries in an unknown part of the island. The road then twisted 10 the left, towards YViannite Omalos, the mountain plateau, ‘Again this summer, and until de end of Sep- tember, a thousend goats and a thousand sheep will graze here, reflected Aciadne while driving very carefully. At this hour, the tallest of che raked peaks, that indigo ‘wreath round Omalos’ lime-green palm, willre sound with bleating, ‘with all sorts of jingling, and the barking of sheepdogs - not exclu¢: ing the bagpipes of some lonely shepherd, “Up here, its as af not a single day has gonebs, unele, although four thousand years hhave passed, Such wild beasts — such sheep and goats, I mean ~ the local Minoans sacrificed 10 the prehistoric goxidess of nature and her young, over on their outdoor tables. Hunters, wealthy stockbreeders, and ado- lescents at the initiatory ceremony of attaining the age of maturity. Worship exteaded to Hellenistic times, but by then they sacrificed to Hermes of the trees and fertile Aptrodite, the divine couple that had sup- planted the Minoan deities. We haven't yet ex. plored all che sanctuary, we couldn't this yeas, but we hope to resume excavations next year. But what T'a telling you is what the diggings and lots Pepi Sworanos -Kokkinidl The Sacred Cader, 1997 Fiction Of votive offerings have hitherto revealed to us” said Ariadae to her uacle Andieas Papaoulakis, ‘who sat next to her in the car. Her uncle celebrated his eightieth birthday ear ly last August, Bur one “rerusned from the deag” can always dely time, danger, and climb high mountains, She gave kim an oblique glance: short, snow-white hair, thick glasses; fresh- shaven; slim) old seyle elegance; tie matching, pocket-handkerchief. All this, when blue jeans, pola necks, sports jackets, and beards are all the sage. But slic acknowledged the fact that today he tad to be properly cressed for the memorial sery- She looked a¢ the car clock, being unable ta see ber watch, Not even two hours had passed since the first, postdictatorship, pan-provincial me- rmorial service ended at the war monument in the 95 Fievi0N distict of Viannou, an austere piece of work, made by a knowa sculptors, in honour of those hundreds executed during the Occupation, Tt stood near the carriageway, on the fringe of a steep hill, so as to overlook che small white vit- Tages, the silvery olive groves, and the violet spasiling of the Libyan Sea, and for them to re- ciprocate its contemplative and commemerative look. Aer the service, her uncle Andreas asked ‘her to accompany him to the sanetuary of Her- mes and Aphrodite, to have a look at the excava- tions, It was twenty years, he told hes, since he climbed this mountain; fiom the time he and Stella had stayed overnight in the monastery of the Virgin of Perdika: bat in those days no one Tenew that thie partisan hideout was the famous Sacred Mountain of Claudius Pioleny, He in sisted that this was a grand opportunity; his niece hhad worked there as an archeologist; his car was stil in good shape, and Ariadne drove it every 5 day since her rewuin co Crete, and what an excel lent driver she was, The others didn’t [eel ike it they said they would wait for them in the coffee shop in Symi, the last village before ascending the mountain, and come down together to their sea- side hotel, in the Libyan Sea, where late in the evening all the family would gather for dinner, “Whatever ‘all the family’ means nowadays,’ commented Stella, affected perhaps by the day af ‘mourning, She kept on turning her sapphire ring round the ring finger of her lef band, in the dark in the light, apprehensive that Andreas, despite his eighty years, insisted on taking advantage oF the afternoon to climb these tall moun ‘ains and view the ancient ruins, Moun: ‘ains strewn with secrets and spells, this is ‘ow she remembered them from her visit ‘o the monastery; she dida’t wish to go up again. A purple ray glinted in the sap phite's heart; Stella left her ring in this po sition; but she, herself, was on tenter: hooks. RHEA GALANAKI, poct, aovelist shore sto 1 water, and essayist was born in lesion, Crete: She read history and archeology at the University oF Athens. Hermovel, The Liteof Is mall Ferik, was the tr in Greece to be fisted in the UNESCO Collection of Representative Works (1904) Ie has been translated iato Kg list, French, German, Dutch, Bulgnvan, and Turkish, Another novel, Eexi Or Nebo, won the te Prize (1990), and was proposed by Gioece forthe 1999 Aesteion European Lie rary Paze, one of the three woxks Finally se- ‘ered. It has beem published in Spain, whereas the lialin and American editions will appsor shortly, Her novell Sign As Louis has been published in USA, Herpoems and shore staries have been trans lated inno vavious langoages. She is alco 9 recipient of the Nikos Kezantcakis Prize awarded by the Muni ality of Iaklion, and the Tranouli Prize I don’t talh to the woods I don’t tath to the tree J don’t talk to the branch J talk 10 you tiny, delicate leaf to you I confide my secrets Markos Meskos From Drizzle Translated by Yannis Gowmas What was a laid-up mule doing on the wharf nue on its four legs and tail swinging to and fro? Does it know why there’s a rope round its neck? Why the last boat will bring oil fish And why a swallow is chirping on the wires thai one wild with joy and this one, head bowed in sorrow? Markos Meskos From In the Karht’s Shadow ‘Translated by Yannis Goumas A storm is brewing, but a tree is decorating ‘self. It has water and light and a stealthy breeze, it thinks ahead - decorates itself. He will aborn itself with flowers, night lamp and Cupid’s mith and kisses in the earth's eternity, A tremor in the soul. Along with the immemorial verd “to yearn”. Markos Meskos From Flowers to the Accursed Serpent Translated by Yannis Goumas Don't let oblivion weil you lel the wind sweep away the grey ash and your face no one shall spoit Markos Meskos From Drizzle Translated by Yannis Coumas Twas going lowards sleep With my head full Of the smoke of burnt earth While my heart was squoezed By invisible pincers And while every night 1 imagine the end of my person As others say their evening prayers, On my pillow tonight 1 found a gift the war had given me: The insignificance of my own death. Katerina Anghelahi-Rooke All you had to say about autumn, swans, memories, eaves of love affairs, self-slaughtering hours, the probity of status — all you had to say about people who gradually succumb, you've already said it. Kiki Dimoula From Dialogue Between You and Me Translated by Yannis Goumas I grew up self-taught listening to the waves How naturally they move the pebbles Secretly listening to the rattle Prom the easy crushing Of previous positions. I translated echoes into many foreign errors At my own expense I asphalted the pointless. Enabling the dirt-crowds to travel dust-free. J popularized the one into many. I proved mathematically. Kiki Dimoula From Biographical Insert Translated by David Connolly A crystal-like climate A hush light on each object’s edges Greece has become hard. A stark landscape. How does one interrupt a vacation. Break down the waves at the seashore. Forget the rocks when diamond drops prevail One does not. Fate has lost heart And I have losi faith Nana Issaia Loven Love, AS your eyes Test On music Drowned animals well up You shake the towel With the soaked-up waters Of your sensuality While 1, dead in the hall, Am laid by August In melted candle Lips part and come together Al the tunnel entrance As you smilingly deliver To the burglars passing Through the dining room Copies of your crimes A gaze hovers the scene Thanassis Niarchos Translated by Yannis Goumas Domestic Foust In your cool living room a forest rustles, These pieces of furniture that you hear breathing SUill keep in their foliage The flying creatures of instinct. And if they eveak Each time a new visitor walks in Tt must be because they feel somewhere a hidden axe Being sharpened. This time At is just a polite smile. Ab night they panic And their thick nail made from a tree root Is thrust Into a roch of cement. Their branches Ruin the ceiling; here look at the cracks In the wood as it groans. Leave them alone; Neither truth nor deceit will smooth down The knots on the bark of ihe old age; leave them. And if the ticking of the worm acts like The beat of their heart They keep dreaming of the heroic flame Thal will separate ai last the spirit From the body ~ Gleam from coal Andonis Fostieris Translated by Katerina Anghelaki-Roobe

You might also like