Here is the list of a few Constantine P. Cavafy's poems that I like, both in English and Greek. A short note explaining the historical or mythological context accompanies some of them. "ITHAKA - A Tribute to Constantine P. Cavafy" includes a complete list of his poems, while the History Channel has made a documentary film about Cavafy.
Good and Bad Weather [Only in Greek, unfortunately.]
The Souls Of Old Men [ En ] [ Gr ]
As Much As You Can [ En ] [ Gr ]
Waiting For The Barbarians [ En ] [ Gr ]
You Didn't Understand
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
Written for Julian the Apostate, the Roman Emperor.
The First Step
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
Theocritos is the creator of ancient Greek bucolic poetry.
Che fece...Il gran rifiuto.
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
Title borrowed from Dante's Inferno, iii, 60. It means "Who made...the great refusal." The omitted words are "per vilta"', i.e. "because of cowardice".
The Ides of March
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
Artemidoros tried -without success- to warn Julius Caesar on March 15 (Ides_of_March) about the assassination conspiracy led by Ceasar's former friend, Brutus.
The Satrapy
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
The poem refers to Themistocles, a talented leader of the Athenian democracy, who accepted a governor position (Satrapy) from Artaxerxes in Persia after being proclaimed a traitor in Athens.
Thermopylae
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
One of the Greek-Persian battles took place in Thermopylae, Greece, in 480BC.
Ephialtes betrayed the small (in numbers) Greek force under Leonidas and helped the Persians (Medes) win. The 300 film also refers to the Spartians and this battle ;)
The God Abandons Antony
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
According to Plutarch, when Marcus Antonius was besieged in Alexandria by Gaius Octavius, he heard the sounds of instruments and voices which passed out of the city the god Bacchus (Dionysos). Then Antony realized that his protector god was deserting him and his defeat was to come. I find relevant these Shakespeare's words.
Ithaka
[ En ]
[ Gr ]
[ Recitation by Sir Sean Connery (Music by Vangelis) ]
Last but not least, this is Cavafy's most popular poem. According to Homer, it took Odysseus 10 years full of adventures to reach his destination (after having spent 10 more years in the Trojan War). Ancient gods angry with Odysseus -like Poseidon- brought great obstacles -like Laestrygonians and Cyclops- in his journey. Odysseus' so longed final destination was his home island, Ithaka.
Back to Debbie's Homepage