Panagiotis Soutsos
Encyclopedia
Panagiotis Soutsos was a Greek
newspaper editor, journalist, author, and poet of the romantic school
, born in Constantinople
(modern Istanbul
, Turkey
). He was an admirer of the ancient Greek tradition, while he used an archaic language in his works. Soutsos is known today as a visionary of the revival of the Olympic Games
who inspired Evangelis Zappas to sponsor the revival of the Olympic Games. Soutsos wrote and published an article with the title "Evangelis Zappas" about the re-establishment of the Olympic Games in his own "Helios" newspaper on July 13, 1856 two whole days before Alexandros Rangavis, the foreign minister of Greece, received a letter from Zappas with details recorded in the article.
, from a prominent Phanariot
family with a tradition in poetry and literature. After finishing his studies in Paris
and Padua
he moved to Transylvania
. In 1833, after the end of Greek War of Independence
he moved to Nafplion
, at the time the capital of the newly formed Greek
state. He soon founded a newspaper called Helios (Ήλιος, "Sun") promoting the cause of Greek unity and culture.
were considered as representatives of early Greek romanticism
.
. In 1833 he published the poem Dialogue of the Dead, in which the ghost of Plato
surveys his tattered land in dismay, wonders if he is really looking at Greece and addresses:
This work was the first reference for the revival of the ancient Olympic Games, as part of the revival of the ancient Greek tradition. Later, in 1835, he put his thoughts into action by writing to the Greek minister of interior, Ioannis Kolettis
suggesting that March 25, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Greek war of independence, should be declared a national holiday. Soutsos proposed that in this anniversary festivities should be held including a revival of the ancient Olympics. The idea of marking March 25 as national holiday was approved, but the Olympic revival plans appear to have been stalemated that time.
Finally, in early 1856, a wealthy merchant of the Greek diaspora in Romania, Evangelis Zappas, inspired by this revival effort was determined to found the Olympics and suggested to the Greek government to sponsor the entire project of the Olympic revival, providing also cash prizes for the victors. In July, Panagiotis Soutsos wrote an enthousiastic article in the Greek press, making Zappas' proposal widely known to the public and triggering a series of events. On November 15, 1859, 25 years after he conceived the idea, the first modern revival
of the athletic Olympic Games took place in Athens
. Moreover, on October 18, 1859, when his Olympic dream became reality, he published an account of the Games' events paying tribute to its sponsor, Evangelis Zappas.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
newspaper editor, journalist, author, and poet of the romantic school
Romantic poetry
Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry...
, born in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(modern Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). He was an admirer of the ancient Greek tradition, while he used an archaic language in his works. Soutsos is known today as a visionary of the revival of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
who inspired Evangelis Zappas to sponsor the revival of the Olympic Games. Soutsos wrote and published an article with the title "Evangelis Zappas" about the re-establishment of the Olympic Games in his own "Helios" newspaper on July 13, 1856 two whole days before Alexandros Rangavis, the foreign minister of Greece, received a letter from Zappas with details recorded in the article.
Early life
Soutsos was born in 1806 in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, from a prominent Phanariot
Phanariotes
Phanariots, Phanariotes, or Phanariote Greeks were members of those prominent Greek families residing in Phanar , the chief Greek quarter of Constantinople, where the Ecumenical Patriarchate is situated.For all their cosmopolitanism and often Western education, the Phanariots were...
family with a tradition in poetry and literature. After finishing his studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
he moved to Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. In 1833, after the end of Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
he moved to Nafplion
Nafplion
Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the peripheral unit of...
, at the time the capital of the newly formed Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
state. He soon founded a newspaper called Helios (Ήλιος, "Sun") promoting the cause of Greek unity and culture.
Poems
In 1831 he wrote the dramatic poem The Wayfarer (Ο Οδοιπόρος), while three years later he published the novel Leander (Ο Λέανδρος). Panagiotis Soutsos wrote several erotic poems on a moderately archaic language and together with his brother Alexandros SoutsosAlexandros Soutsos
Alexandros Soutsos was a Greek poet from a prominent Phanariote family. He founded the Greek Romantic school of poetry. Soutsos was born in Istanbul in 1803 from Chian parentage. At the time of the Greek Revolution, he was a young, liberal partisan. He wrote poems to encourage the insurgents....
were considered as representatives of early Greek romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
.
Olympic revival movement
Soutsos admired the ancient Greek tradition and often wandered in the ancient ruins, while he viewed the omnipresence of classical antiquities in Greece through the prism of an inflated romanticismRomanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
. In 1833 he published the poem Dialogue of the Dead, in which the ghost of Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
surveys his tattered land in dismay, wonders if he is really looking at Greece and addresses:
This work was the first reference for the revival of the ancient Olympic Games, as part of the revival of the ancient Greek tradition. Later, in 1835, he put his thoughts into action by writing to the Greek minister of interior, Ioannis Kolettis
Ioannis Kolettis
Ioannis Kolettis was a Greek politician who played a significant role in Greek affairs from the Greek War of Independence through the early years of the Greek Kingdom, including as Minister to France and serving twice as Prime Minister....
suggesting that March 25, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Greek war of independence, should be declared a national holiday. Soutsos proposed that in this anniversary festivities should be held including a revival of the ancient Olympics. The idea of marking March 25 as national holiday was approved, but the Olympic revival plans appear to have been stalemated that time.
Finally, in early 1856, a wealthy merchant of the Greek diaspora in Romania, Evangelis Zappas, inspired by this revival effort was determined to found the Olympics and suggested to the Greek government to sponsor the entire project of the Olympic revival, providing also cash prizes for the victors. In July, Panagiotis Soutsos wrote an enthousiastic article in the Greek press, making Zappas' proposal widely known to the public and triggering a series of events. On November 15, 1859, 25 years after he conceived the idea, the first modern revival
Zappas Olympics
The Zappas Olympics , simply called Olympics at the time, were a series of athletic events held in Athens, Greece, in 1859, 1870, and 1875 sponsored by the Greek businessman Evangelis Zappas. These games were the first revival of the ancient Olympic Games in the modern era...
of the athletic Olympic Games took place in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Moreover, on October 18, 1859, when his Olympic dream became reality, he published an account of the Games' events paying tribute to its sponsor, Evangelis Zappas.