Recently, with the support of the Onassis Foundation, the new edition of dr. Elenis Kourmantzi, “Athanassios Psalidas: “Archive Logos””, which illuminates the work of the leading Greek enlightener Athanasios Psalidas. His multifaceted personality unfolds through the documents of the period 1786-1829, highlighting at the same time the philosophy of humanism and the ideas of the Enlightenment. Dr. Eleni Kourmantzi spoke to “ET” of Sunday, on the occasion of this unique edition:
You describe Athanasios Psalidas as “methodical” and “a perfectionist”, with “the alertness and foresight of a wise man”. For what reasons did you choose to work with this brilliant personality?
The beginning was made in the 80s. There we will trace the roots of my preoccupation with the personality of Athanasios Psalidas, and the occasion was the discussions with the tireless scholar Leandros Vranoussi. In these discussions, he had indicated to me the need for substantial research and a thorough study of the manuscript archive of Psalis, an outstanding form of the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment. What fascinated me regarding Psalidas was his unique ability to combine methodicality and perfectionism with the acuity and predictability of a true multitasker. These qualities, rare and precious, make Psalis a model of Enlightenment spiritual cultivation. Psalidas was not just a scholar, he was a teacher, a writer, a patriot and, above all, a visionary. This mixture of qualities, which are directly connected to each other, prompted me to explore more deeply his life and work, seeking to illuminate his contribution to modern Greek thought and education.
Do you think that Athanasios Psalidas has not been promoted as he deserves to date?
It is true that Athanasios Psalidas has not received the recognition he deserves compared to other scholars of his time. His contribution to education and the national consciousness of Greece is invaluable, but the lack of global consideration and evaluation of his work has led to a degradation of his value. But this is not today’s result. One can easily see that radical views in a wider conservative context would not easily come to the fore in any era. The present edition “Athanassios Psalidas: Archival Text” does not function as a justification for highlighting Psalidas, but as a means for Psalidas to come – even now – to the forefront of the research of Modern Greek Letters, directly, through his own evidence.
What is the goal of this release?
The present edition is a complex result. From my side comes the research, the study of the archive and the scientific diligence, in order to achieve respectively a multifaceted goal of highlighting the real “voice” of Athanasios Psalidas. This edition aspires to provide a complete picture of Psalidas’ personality and his contribution to modern Greek education and thought, providing access to primary material that has hitherto been difficult to study. Through this publication, we seek to enhance the knowledge and understanding of Psalis’s work, making it accessible and comprehensible to both specialists and scholars and lovers of history and literature.
How much did the private life of Psalidas and his family contribute to his brilliant public work?
Everything starts at home. Isn’t that what they say? The private life of Athanasios Psalidas and his family played a decisive role in shaping his personality and his public course. His family’s urban background provided the necessary foundations for his intellectual growth and social influence. The stimuli and opportunities for education he received from his family formed the cornerstone for the development of his abilities and interests.
Do you single out anyone from the fields who acted as a scholar, teacher, writer, politician, patriot and contributed to the Revolution of 1821?
The multifaceted personality of Athanasios Psalidas makes him an outstanding figure of the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment. His dedication to the cultivation of Education and the formation of political consciousness is particularly noteworthy. As a teacher, he offered his knowledge and values to countless students, contributing to the intellectual renaissance of his time. As a writer, his works are important sources of knowledge and inspiration. As a political man, he was a model patriot, inspired by the ideals of human freedom. It is precisely this contribution of his in all these fields, equal and complementary, which makes him one of the most important scholars of his time.
With which personalities would you compare Athanasios Psalidas and his work?
Comparing Athanasios Psalidas with other personalities is difficult, as Psalidas is a unique case. After all, these comparisons in general can easily do injustice to those being compared.
Psalidas probably looks like a version of Prometheus. He wants to bring the “fire” of knowledge, the lights of Enlightenment to the common people and lead to the “rectification of the degenerate race”. Does he have a god to punish him? He’s got. Every kind of conservative establishment of its era and perhaps of every era and later. His punishment was not chains to some literal rock, but chains to an establishment. The difference here is how he turned this “punishment” into an offer. Until his last days we see him as a tireless teacher taking care of everything in the school of Lefkada and at the same time his mind is on how to liberate Epirus.
With this edition, which contains the manuscripts of the leading Neo-Hellenic enlightener, does the project of presenting the leading Greek enlightener come to an end from your side?
On the contrary, I would say that it has just begun. This edition opens new avenues for the further study and research of the work of Athanasios Psalidas. It is only the beginning of a long-term project for the full and substantial recognition of the importance of Psalidas and, at the same time, I hope it will be an incentive for similar projects in the wider context of the Neohellenic Secretariat.
«The Ioannina constituted center of education according to New Greek Enlightenment”
Are you always interested in the promotion of the history and spiritual life of your place, the people of Ioannina?
The case of Athanasios Psalis is a unique opportunity to highlight a worthy personality who had not received his due place in Greek grammar. Although my roots from Ioannina certainly play a role in my love of local history, my engagement with Psalidas does not stem from local motives. My goal is to highlight his contribution to the broader modern Greek education and intellect, regardless of his geographical origin.
Having separated this, we should also note that Ioannina was a center of education during the period of the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment. This is scientifically interesting for me. An interest, which is combined with a moral obligation towards the place that shaped me. Thus, inevitably, researching and highlighting the spiritual heritage of my country is a duty and an honor for me, as it contributes to the preservation and promotion of our cultural identity.
How much has your own origin from Ioannina contributed to you being a tireless researcher of Ioannina philosophy?
Our origins always play an important role in shaping our interests and research endeavors. My love for Ioannina and my desire to highlight the wisdom of the city stems from my deep belief that history should be viewed in a broader perspective. As a researcher, I seek to illuminate lesser-known aspects of history and offer new perspectives to readers and scholars. This belief is what guides and encourages me to continue my work, both in Greece and abroad, and to remain, within a wider research context, a faithful researcher of the intellectual heritage of my country.
“Research is a journey that never ends…”
Your future plans?
I continue to work on new research projects concerning Modern Greek literature, the Modern Greek Enlightenment and its relation to the Enlightenment movements more broadly in the Balkans. It would be a cliché if I said the expected that I hope I can continue to contribute even more to the understanding and highlighting of important personalities and works that determined the course of modern Greek thought and culture. Let’s just stick to this: Research is a journey that never ends, no matter how many times you reach your destination. And I always look forward to continuing this journey.
Info
“ATHANASIOS THE SCISSORS: “ARCHIVE LOGOS””*
ELENI KOURMANTZI
EDITIONS: Onassis Foundation
PAGE: 597
* Hardcover, in selected bookshops and points of sale
#Psalidas #version #Prometheus