"Poetry as a Time-Machine, Ancient Inscriptions in Cavafy's Work", a lecture by Professor Angelos Chaniotis

With an eye towards promoting Greek culture abroad, the Consulate General of Greece in New York, together with the Program in Hellenic Studies at Columbia University held a lecture by Professor Angelos Chaniotis (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton) on C.P. Cavafy’s poems, on November 14th at Columbia University.

The lecture aimed to shed light upon a less known aspect of the poet’s work; that is Cavafy’s ability to express himself poetically through historical facts and ancient inscriptions. The inscriptions are included in Cavafy’s ten poems, all of them belonging to his mature poetic phase and published between 1917-1918.

The lecture laid emphasis on two important features, which have become the topic of scientific research and debate. The first element inspects the level of Cavafy’s ability to “write history” when encompassing the ancient texts in his work. The second element touches upon the poet’s inclination to draw inspiration from the historical figures who suffered defeat and not the ones extolled.

Chaniotis explained that, regarding Cavafy’s ability to interact with history, the poet proves himself to be completely adept, to the point where, in some cases, his work is more progressive than historians and certainly more innovative. He shows an understanding for the intricacies of the centuries he delves into that is insightful and equal to an historian’s work, almost a century ahead of his time. As for the second element, the Professor again explains that Cavafy is indeed intrigued by the historical figures who were left in the shadows of history. The poet is left untouched by the pharaonic archaeological revelations of his time. He is not interested in the larger-than-life statues and tombs. As Chaniotis puts it: “From all the Ptolemies of the Dysnasty, Cavafy focuses on the one who never ruled, Caesarion.

About Angelos Chaniotis:

Angelos Chaniotis is Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He has contributed mainly to the study of society and culture in the Hellenistic World and the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, examining subjects related to historical memory, identity, the social dimensions of religion, theatricality in public life, emotions, war, and the relevance of Classical studies in the modern world.

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