THE DESTRUCTION OF CRETE (TIS KRITIS O CHALASMOS):
A POEM ON THE EARTHQUAKE IN CRETE IN 1508
THE DESTRUCTION OF CRETE (TIS KRITIS O CHALASMOS):
A POEM ON THE EARTHQUAKE IN CRETE IN 1508
Author(s): Ferhan KIRLIDÖKME MOLLAOĞLUSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, 16th Century
Published by: Trakya Üniversitesi Balkan Araştırma Enstitüsü
Keywords: Manolis Sklavos; Crete; Modern Greek Literature; Poem; Earthquake;
Summary/Abstract: The Destruction of Crete (Tis Kritis o chalasmos) is a poem of 282 verses. Its subject is the major earthquake of 29 May 1508, and it seems that the poem was written in the same year. Half of it is an account of the disaster in Candia, together with people’s reactions to it, and a description of a storm on 5 June. In the second part the author ascribes the disaster to the sinfulness of people and he exhorts them to ask God for forgiveness and to pray for the victims. The name Crete in the poem mostly refers to its capital city rather than the entire island. The Destruction of Crete is one of the most important historical sources of this earthquake, as Manolis Sklavos was an eyewitness of the disaster. Another significant source of information about the 1508 earthquake in Crete is the letter of Girolamo Donato, the Venetian Duke of Crete, dated July 15, 1508.
Journal: Balkan Araştırma Enstitüsü Dergisi -Trakya Üniversitesi
- Issue Year: 12/2023
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 471-490
- Page Count: 19
- Language: English