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Home , French Renaissance, Renaissance philosophy, Renaissance studies

3/2012 - 1

Georgios Steiris

Renaissance Studies in Greece

Since the 19th century, as the Renaissance, despite the fact that usually have gradually gained autonomy from Medieval their research is focused on the 17th and 18th and the Early Modern studies. In countries like century. Greece, where the traditional view was that no Regarding the academics, I. Vivilakis, in Renaissance occurred in the Balkan Peninsula the Department of Theatre at the University of during the 14th - 16th centuries as a result of the Athens, is associate professor of “Theory of Turkish occupation, Renaissance studies had to Theatre – History of Religious Theatre in the struggle to gain autonomy and distinct presence Middle Ages and ”. Vivilakis’ in the curricula of Greek universities. This article research is focused in the Byzantine period and aims to present the current status of Renais- the connections between the ancient theatre sance studies in Greek universities and to give a and the rituals of the Eastern Christian religion. critical account of it. [1] In the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Athens, associate professor In Greece, there are 21 universities Maria Ntourou-Eliopoulou[2] and assistant pro- where 9312 lecturers, assistant, associate and fessor N. Giantsi teach “History of the Middle full professors offer their services. Only 21 of Ages and the Early Modern period”. Ntourou-Eli- these professors, namely 0,22%, have the term opoulou is a specialist in the history of the Latin “Renaissance” in their official academic assign- dominion in the Greek region from the 11th till ment, indicating that they were elected so as to the 17th century. Giantsi’s research is focused promote research and teaching on the Renais- predominantly on the period of the High Middle sance. Specifically, they are distributed as fol- Ages in Western . In the same Depart- lows: 6 in the National and Kapodistrian Univer- ment, K. Gaganakis is assistant professor of sity of Athens, 7 in the University of “Modern European History 16th - 18th century”. Thessaloniki - which is the largest in Greece -, 4 [3] His research is focused on the Reformation in the University of Ioannina, 3 in the University and 16th century , subjects that refer to of Crete and 1 in the Athens School of Fine Arts. the Renaissance, namely that of Northern It is obvious that only the oldest Greek universit- Europe. It is worth noticing that in the Depart- ies have chairs dedicated to Renaissance Stud- ment of Italian Studies of the University of ies. Despite the fact that some of the other, Athens, only R. Demopoulou concentrates her more recent, universities have departments and research on the Renaissance, her area of spe- schools of humanities, they do not feel the need cialization “Medieval and Renaissance to include Renaissance studies in their plan of Latin Literature”. Demopoulou studies the Latin academic development. It is worth noticing that literature from the 14th to the 16th century and certain Greek universities and the large part of the texts of the Latin travelers who visited the Greek academia consider the Renaissance Greece during the Renaissance so as to com- as a rather short and underrated part of the early ment on their remarks. “Last but not least”, modern period. As a result, they think that schol- Georgios Steiris, assistant professor of “Mediev- ars who research and teach the early modern al and Renaissance ” in the Depart- period cover the needs of the universities as far ment of Philosophy, Pedagogy, Psychology of Georgios Steiris Renaissance Studies in Greece kunsttexte.de 3/2012 - 2

the University of Athens: Steiris focuses his re- of the 19th and 20th centuries. The search predominantly on the 15th and 16th cen- same applies to A. Sarafianos-Bogiatzis who turies and the . Moreover, it also does research on the 19th century English is worth noticing that the University of Athens is art.[12] In the same university, but in the Depart- the only Greek university ever to establish a ment of Plastic Arts and Art Sciences, while A. chair for .[4] Christou[13] is associate professor of “Art His- The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is tory from the Renaissance until the present” and the largest Greek university. H. Savvopoulos - A. Adamopoulou is assistant professor of “Art assistant professor of “Modern and Contempor- History from the Renaissance until the present”. ary Art from the Renaissance until the Present” [14] Both of them focus their research in Greek in the Department of Pictorial and Applied Arts - art of the last two centuries. focuses his research on contemporary Greek art In the University of Crete, E. Mathi- and not the Renaissance. Very interesting is the opoulos is associate professor of “Western Art work of Th. Kitsos, lecturer in the Department of History” in the Department of History and Ar- Music, who studies “Medieval and Renaissance chaeology. His work is concentrated on Greek music”.[5] His research is concentrated on the art of the 20th century.[15] P. Ioannou is assist- interaction between 16th century Italian music ant professor of “Art History from the Renais- and the early Baroque of the 17th century. Tina sance until the Baroque” in the same Depart- Krontiris is Professor of “ ment. Ioannou studies , espe- and drama” at the Aristotle University. Her re- cially Greek painters who worked in Renais- search is focused on 16th and 17th century Eng- sance Europe in the 15th and 16th century. His land, especially the role and social status of wo- research involves Belisario Corenzio and Dome- men. She also studies Shakespeare’s plays.[6] nico Theotokopoulos.[16] P. Cornezou, lecturer St. Litsardakis is assistant professor of “French in “Western Art History from the Renaissance Literature of the 16th century”. A significant until Romanticism”, serves in the same Depart- number of her papers and books deal with the ment. Her research is dedicated to 17th century work of .[7] The Department , while she seems to be interested of History and Archaeology at the Aristotle Uni- also in .[17] In the same Department, versity has three professors whose official area E. Sakellariou is assistant professor of “Western of specialization is “History of Medieval and Medieval History”. Despite her official assign- Modern Art in the West”. In addition, professors ment, Sakellariou’s research involves the E. Myconiatis,[8] M. Papanikolaou[9] and A. Renaissance, especially in the Italian peninsula Charalambides[10] concentrate their research on from the 15th to the 18th centuries.[18] Greek art of the 19th and 20th centuries. N. S. In the Ionian University at Corfu, in the Litsardopoulou is lecturer in “History of Modern Department of History, N. Karapidakes is pro- European Art from the Renaissance until fessor of “Western Medieval History and Institu- Baroque” in the Department of Arts History and tions’ Transmission in the Eastern Mediter- Theory. Her research is focused on Rubens and ranean”. Aspects of his work involve the rela- the 17th century painting, which is not part of the tions between Greece and Venice during the Renaissance.[11] Renaissance.[19] In addition, Th. Nicolaides, who In the University of Ioannina, Th. is assistant professor of “Modern European His- Markatou is assistant professor of “Art History tory”, studies Machiavellianism in 16th and 17th from the Renaissance until the present” in the century France.[20] As for the Democritus Uni- Department of History and Archaeology. Once versity of Thrace, P. Tzivara is lecturer in “Greek again, as far as it concerns professors of art his- History under the Venetian Occupation” in the tory in the Greek universities, she studies Greek Department of History and Ethnology.[21] Georgios Steiris Renaissance Studies in Greece kunsttexte.de 3/2012 - 3

Besides the staff, a survey of Renaissance stud- In the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the ies in Greece should not exclude the curricula. Department of Greek Philology, there are two Courses dedicated to the Renaissance exist in courses that refer to the Renaissance. The first several departments and universities. First of all, is entitled «Neo-Latin Literature», the second, in the Department of Philosophy and History of «Greek and Latin Literature in the Middle Ages Science of the University of Athens, students are and the Renaissance»; the latter deals with the required to take the course “Art History I”. Ac- interaction of the two traditions, Greek and Lat- cording to the syllabus, this course, beginning in in, in a long-standing period.[27] In the Depart- the Duecento, also deals with the Renaissance ment of History and Archaeology, Renaissance and .[22] In the Department of French art is being examined in two courses that separ- Language, the course “From the chivalric ideal ate the period: «Early Renaissance Art» and to Renaissance ” deals with the High «Late Renaissance Art and Mannerism». There Middle Ages and the Renaissance, focusing on are also two courses that refer to Renaissance the differences between the two periods, while History, although it’s difficult to discern their dif- the course “History of French Literature: The ferences: «Early Modern Europe» and «Modern Renaissance” elaborates the social, economical European History 15th – 18th centuries».[28] In and political milieu of .[23] In the Department of Philosophy, the only course the Department of History and Archaeology, the that deals with the Renaissance is «Modern course «The Western European Societies of the Political and from Machiavelli Early Modern Period (16th - 18th centuries)» to Marx». The Department does not have an in- refers to the social and political situation in early dependent course on Renaissance Philosophy modern Europe and the formation of national yet.[29] In the Department of English Literature, identities. Of special interest is the course «The the course «English Literature and Civilization: witches’ persecution in Western Europe 1500 - Renaissance Literature» focuses on 16th and 1700». The scope of the course is to instruct 17th century England.[30] Nonetheless, broader students in the perceptions of magic and its so- is the scope of the course «Renaissance and cial impact. The courses «Medieval History I and Humanism», that is being taught in the Depart- II» study all aspects of the medieval world, but ment of .[31] Furthermore, in they also present 15th century Europe, so as to the Department of Architecture, the course denote the paradigm shift of the Renaissance. In “European Art from the Renaissance to Neo- the same Department, the course «Art History I» Classicism” focuses on the Early Modern and deals with Renaissance art and Mannerism.[24] Modern Art.[32] Of special interest is the curriculum of the De- In the University of Ioannina, in the De- partment of Music of the University of Athens. partment of Philology, there is only one course Namely, there are three courses: “Theory and on the Renaissance that is dealing with the Practice of ”, “Greek Com- “Cretan Renaissance”, the reception of the posers in the Renaissance”, “The Climax of the Renaissance in Crete under the Venetian domin- Renaissance: Schools of Rome and Venice”. It is ion.[33] Moreover, in the Department of History obvious that the Department shows noteworthy and Archaeology, the course “European Art from interest in Renaissance music, while its point of the Renaissance to the Rococo” is the only view is not ethnocentric, as it would otherwise course including the Renaissance, a fact that is be expected for a Greek University Department. rather peculiar for such a Department.[34] Fi- [25] In the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy nally, a similar course, “Renaissance Art – Man- and Psychology the course “Renaissance nerism”, is part of the curriculum in the De- Philosophy” deals with the philosophical tradi- partment of Plastic Arts and Art Science.[35] tions of the 15th and 16th centuries.[26] Georgios Steiris Renaissance Studies in Greece kunsttexte.de 3/2012 - 4

Apparently, there is more interest in the Renais- current bibliography, it is not an easy task to sance at current in the Department of History trace their writings and be informed for their re- and Archaeology of the University of Crete. The search before the defense of their theses. course “ and classical art” focuses on To sum up, the facts prove that the in- the Italian Renaissance, especially the school of terest for Renaissance studies in Greece has not Rome. In addition, the courses “The Art of the increased. Usually, Greek scholars and students Counter Reformation”, “Flemish Art from Van feel awkward towards that period because they Eyck to Bruegel”, “Caravaggio and his school” think of Renaissance as something alien to their and “Art in Spain and its colonies (16th - 17th culture. It is common among scholars of human- century)” deal with other aspects of Renais- ities when they refer to the period from 1450 - sance art, helping students to strengthen their 1600, to use the term “post-byzantine” instead about Renaissance art. There are of Renaissance. Also, Renaissance studies do also two courses on Renaissance history: “Con- not have a rich tradition in Greek universities. stitutional History and Political Thought in Eng- There were no major academic figures who were land 14th - 16th century” and “England’s seces- experts in the period so as to promote Renais- sion from papal influence: from the anticlerical- sance studies and leave a legacy of students ism of the Late Middle Ages to Reformation”. and written works. Other Greek scholars main- These two courses deal with uncommon sub- tain that the Renaissance is not a distinct period jects of Renaissance history.[36] In the Depart- and should be studied within the scheme of the ment of Philosophical and Social Sciences, the Modern European period. course “History of Renaissance Philosophy” is From my , I would like to re- part of the curriculum, although it is seldom mark that students, when they follow courses on taught.[37] the Renaissance, show interest and appreciate In the Department of History at the Ioni- Renaissance studies. Some of them continue an University at Corfu, the course “History of the their studies of the period, mainly in European Greek territories under Latin dominion” exam- universities. The problem is one of a brain drain: ines the presence of the Latin speaking con- usually such students build their careers abroad querors in Greece in the Middle Ages and the and do not return to Greece to enhance Re- Renaissance.[38] In the Democritus University of naissance studies. Thrace, the Department of Greek Philology teaches “Neo-Latin Literature” to its students. [39] In the University of Peloponnese, in the De- partment of History and Archaeology, there are Endnotes two courses that deal with the Renaissance: 1. http://www.theatre.uoa.gr/didaktiko- dynamiko/melh-dep/iwsif-bibilakhs.html (accessed “History of Art: Middle Ages – Renaissance” is 27/7/12). the only course in the Greek University system 2. http://old.arch.uoa.gr/index.php? that combines Medieval and Renaissance Art. In option=com_content&task=view&id=72 (accessed 27/712). addition, the course “Modern European History: 3. http://www.arch.uoa.gr/fileadmin/arch.uoa.gr/up - From Renaissance to the Conference of Vienna” loads/cvs/gaganakis_gr.pdf (accessed 27/7/12). focuses on the Early Modern and Modern 4. http://www.ppp.uoa.gr/fileadmin/ppp.uoa.gr/up - loads/cvs/STEIRIS_CV_website-1.pdf (accessed European History.[40] 27/7/12). In the post-graduate level, there is no 5. http://www.mus.auth.gr/cms/?q=node/537 (ac- specified Renaissance program in the Greek uni- cessed 27/7/12). 6. http://www.enl.auth.gr/staff/krontiri.htm (accessed versities. There are Ph.D. candidates who do re- 27/7/12). search on various aspects of Renaissance civi- 7. http://www.frl.auth.gr/frl/kathigitis.php?ID=40 (ac- lization. However, because of the scarcity of cessed 27/7/12). Georgios Steiris Renaissance Studies in Greece kunsttexte.de 3/2012 - 5

8. http://www.hist.auth.gr/en/Teaching-Staff/Ili - 32. http://arch.matrix.gr/pub/SYNOPTIKOS_ODH - as-Mykoniatis (accessed 30/7/12). GOS_SPOUDON_2011_2012.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). 9. http://www.hist.auth.gr/en/Teaching- 33. http://www.uoi.gr/schools/phil/sites/default/files/fil Staff/Miltiadis-Papanikolaou (accessed 30/7/12). e/SITE/Odigos%20Spoudon12-13_v5_10-07- 10. http://www.hist.auth.gr/en/Teaching-Staff/Alkibi - 12.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). adis-Charalampidis (accessed 30/7/12). 34. http://www.hist- 11. http://www.aht.asfa.gr/index.php/--mainmenu- arch.uoi.gr/pdfs_docs/odigos_spoudon_new_201 53/-----mainmenu-97/103-2009-02-17-13-06-56 1_2012.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). (accessed 28/7/12). 35. http://arts.uoi.gr/ (accessed 29/7/12). 12. http://www.hist- 36. http://www.history- arch.uoi.gr/prosopiko/sarafianos/cv_en_version.p- archaeology.uoc.gr/files/items/6/610/odh- df (accessed 28/7/12). gos-spoudon-2011-12.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). 13. http://arts.uoi.gr/DEP_CHRISTOU/dep_christou.ht 37. http://www.fks.uoc.gr/docs/odigos200910.pdf (ac- ml (accessed 28/7/12). cessed 29/7/12). 14. http://arts.uoi.gr/DEP_ADAMOPOULOU/spoudes. 38. http://history.ionio.gr/index1.html (29/7/12). htm (accessed 28/7/12). 39. http://helit.duth.gr/undergraduate/guide/21102011 15. http://www.history- _PROGRAMMA_SPOUDON_2011_2012.pdf (ac- archaeology.uoc.gr/el/staff/dep/Matthi- cessed 29/7/12). opoulos.html (accessed 28/7/12). 40. http://kalamata.uop.gr/~hamccd/ (29/7/12). 16. http://www.history- archaeology.uoc.gr/el/staff/dep/Ioannou.html (ac- cessed 28/7/12). 17. http://www.history- archaeology.uoc.gr/el/staff/dep/cvKornezou.html Author (accessed 28/7/12). The author is Assistant Professor of Medieval 18. http://www.history- and Renaissance Philosophy at the University of archaeology.uoc.gr/el/staff/dep/Sakellariou.html (accessed 28/7/12). Athens. 19. http://history.ionio.gr/english/index1_eng.html (ac- cessed 28/7/12). 20. http://history.ionio.gr/english/index1_eng.html (ac- cessed 28/7/12). Title 21. http://utopia.duth.gr/~ptzivara/cur.htm (accessed Georgios Steiris, Renaissance Studies in Gree- 28/7/12). 22. http://www.phs.uoa.gr/proptyxiakes- ce, in: Teaching the Renaissance II, ed. by An- spoydes/lista-ma8hmatwn.html (accessed 28/7/12). gela Dreßen and Susanne Gramatzki, in: kunst- 23. http://www.frl.uoa.gr/fileadmin/frl.uoa.gr/uploads/ texte.de, Nr. 3, 2012 (5 pages), www.kunsttex- pdf/student_guide_2005-2006.pdf (accessed 28/7/12). te.de. 24. http :// www . arch . uoa . gr / fileadmin / arch . uoa . gr / up - loads / proptyxiakes _ spoudes / odhgos _ spoudwn _2 012_2013. pdf (accessed 28/7/12). 25. http://www.music.uoa.gr/fileadmin/music.uoa.gr/u ploads/neo-programma-19ocr2010.pdf (accessed 28/7/2012). 26. http://www.ppp.uoa.gr/fileadmin/ppp.uoa.gr/up - loads/odigos_spoudon/ODIGOS_SPOYDON_FPP S_A4_-_TELEYTAIA_EKDOSI._IOYNIOS_2012.pdf (accessed 28/7/12). 27. http://www.lit.auth.gr/sites/default/files/study - guides/1112en_0.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). 28. http://www.hist.auth.gr/sites/default/files/guide_of _studies_2011_2012.pdf (accessed 29/7/12). 29. http://www.edlit.auth.gr/html/spoudes/proptyx/phi lo/central.html (accessed 29/7/12). 30. http://www.enl.auth.gr/guide.pdf (accesed 29/7/12). 31. http://www.frl.auth.gr/frl/index.php? option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=260 &lang=el (accessed 29/7/12).