Andreas Embirikos: Greece’s first psychoanalyst

·

Andreas Embirikos was a Greek surrealist poet and the first Greek psychoanalyst.

Early Life:

Embirikos was born on the 2nd of September 1901 and came from a wealthy family as his father was an important ship-owner.

He was born in Brăila, Romania, but his family soon moved to Ermoupolis in Syros. When Embirikos was only seven years old they moved to Athens.

While he was still a teenager, his parents divorced.

Andreas Embirikos.

Embirikos started studying philosophy at the University of Athens, but he eventually decided to move to Lausanne to stay with his mother.

The following years, Embirikos studied a variety of subjects both in France and in the United Kingdom. It was in Paris where he decided to study psychanalysis together with René Laforgue.

Body of Work:

Embirikos’ poetry can be defined by two major tendencies.

On the one hand, he was one of the major representatives of surrealism in Greece. His first poetic collection, Ipsikaminos, was a heretic book, characterised by the lack of the punctuation and the peculiarity of the language.

Embirikos was the first Greek psychoanalyst.

On the other hand, much of his work also dealt with the “Greek trauma.” With a frenzied sense of humour and well-meant boldness, he always tried to combine what is genuinely imaginary with the simple fact.

Death and Legacy:

Embirikos died in Kifissia, Athens in 1975. His mother preceded him by only two years.

Together with George Seferis, Embirikos was the most important representative of the “Generation of the ’30s.” He contributed greatly to the introduction of modernism in Greek letters and he helped change once and for all the poetic atmosphere of Greece.

Source: poemhunter.com.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Pontoxeniteas NSW celebrates community, culture and generosity at 2025 Winter Wonderland

Celebration swept through The Grand Roxy on Saturday, May 31, as Pontoxeniteas NSW hosted its spectacular Winter Wonderland Gala 2025.

GCM prepares for AGM as Board elections and revenue outlook take centre stage

The Greek Community of Melbourne has officially announced that its Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, 15 June 2025.

Raptis sisters left devastated as SA music school faces second government acquisition

Koula and Mary Raptis are “devastated and heartbroken” after learning their music school, Allegro Music, is to be acquired by the government.

Jon Adgemis vacates luxury Sydney mansion amid legal battle over his mum’s home

Disgraced former KPMG dealmaker Jon Adgemis has vacated the $20,000-a-week Point Piper mansion dubbed the "Bang & Olufsen house."

Australian Hellenic Choir delivers a stirring musical journey at ‘A Portrait of Greece’ in Sydney

The Australian Hellenic Choir captivated a packed Sir John Clancy Auditorium at the University of New South Wales on Sunday, June 1.

You May Also Like

Greece and China sign MoU to enhance student exchange programs

Greece and the People's Republic of China signed a Memorandum of Collaboration to explore opportunity in both countries' universities.

St Andrew’s Grammar in WA brings Christmas to life with Kindergarten nativity

St Andrew's Grammar's Kindergarten class brought the story of Christmas to life in a beautiful nativity performance.

Mock VCE exams and Rebetiko Night for GCM School seniors

On Tuesday, September 24, a lively event was held at the Greek Centre in Melbourne for the students of the GCM Schools.