Tribute to Nikiforos Vrettakos

The Larnaka Municipality during its summer Festival among other cultural events has instituted poetic evenings dedicated to renowned poets. A number of tributes have been presented over the years for poets such as Seferis, Elytis, Kavafis, Montis, Ritsos, Liasides, Anthias etc. This year a tribute is made to one significant contemporary Greek poet, who has been distinguished for the rich and generous humanism of his poetry as well as the peculiarity of his inspirations. The poetry night this year is dedicated to Nikiforos Vrettakos.

Nikiforos Vrettakos was born in the village of Krokees, near Sparta, on the 1st of January 1912. At a young age he moved to Athens to attend university but the following year he gave up his studies for taking a series of jobs as a clerk in various businesses, civil servant (1938-1947) and as a newspaper and magazine language editor, also seeing combat service in the Greco-Italian War during this period. In 1967 he responded to the takeover of Greece by a military dictatorship by going into self-imposed exile, where he remained until returning to Greece in 1974.

Nikiforos Vrettakos is considered one of Greece's most important poets. He won a number of prizes and medals, including the Greek State Poetry Prize twice. Some of his poems became popular songs in musical settings by Greek composers, including Mikis Theodorakis. His verse was also translated into many languages. He was elected as a member of the Academy of Athens in 1987. The poet died on the 4 of August 1991 and since the Municipality of Athens bestows a yearly literature prize in his memory.

Poetry reciting by actors of the regional theatre Skala.