2023. Conference at the Philological Society “Parnassos” on the influence of Ugo Foscolo on Modern Greek Letters / OIKIA UGO FOSCOLO

P23. Conference at the Philological Society “Parnassos” on the influence of Ugo Foscolo on Modern Greek Letters

On 1 November 2023, the intellectual world of Athens discovered aspects of the life and work of Nikolaos – Ugo Foscolo through an event that had all the characteristics of scholarly recording and presentation. Indeed, the conference formed part of the programme of the Open University run by the Philological Society “Parnassos”, in which leading university teachers take part.

At the premises of the Philological Society PARNASSOS and in the emblematic “Kostis Palamas” hall, the scholarly conference was held on the theme: “Ugo Foscolo in Modern Greek History and Letters”.

The co-organisers of the event were the Cultural Association of Zakynthos “Ugo Foscolo” and the Crispi Foundation for International Legal Studies. The speakers were Professors of the University of Athens Gerasimos Zoras and Maria Sgouridou and Dr of Philosophy Sofia Moraiti.

Mr Ger. Zoras spoke of the influence that Foscolo exerted with his work, both during his lifetime and after his death, on Dionysios Solomos and on other later Heptanesian poets.

Ms Maria Sgouridou spoke of the reception of Foscolo’s work among later poets from Zakynthos and presented evidence of the way in which poets from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day supported, with verses and texts, the restoration of the house, in its present form, in the centre of the town of Zakynthos.

Ms Sofia Moraiti brought out details of the special relationship that Ioannis Kapodistrias had built with Ugo Foscolo through letters and documents.
The event was greeted by the Secretary of the Open University, Professor of Sociology F. Nikolopoulos, the President of the Cultural Association of Zakynthos “Ugo Foscolo” Filippos Synetos, and the President of the Crispi Foundation, Anastasia Samara.

In his greeting Mr F. Synetos appealed to the university community, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the writing of the national anthem, to support Zakynthos’s request that the national poet Dionysios Solomos be honoured with the erection of a statue at a central point in the city of Athens.