- Vasilis Michaelides
Infobox Writer
name = Vasilis Michaelides
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birthdate = 1849
birthplace = Lefkoniko, Cyprus
deathdate = 18th of December 1917.
deathplace = Nicosia, Cyprus
occupation = Poet
nationality = Cypriot
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website =Vasilis Michaelides ( _el. Βασίλης Μιχαηλίδης) is considered by many and often referred to as the national poet of
Cyprus .He was born in
Lefkoniko , a village in theFamagusta District of Cyprus, in 1849. His first contact with the arts came in the form ofhagiography , in the archbishopric in Nicosia where he trained as an artist. In 1875 he moved toNaples , Italy for further training.Michaelides wrote several poems in
Katharevousa ,Dhimotiki and the Cypriot Dialect. His first poetry collection was published in 1882. Arguably, his most famous work is "The 9th of July 1821" a poem in the Cypriot dialect detailing the events leading to the execution of the Greek Cypriot leadership, includingArchbishop Kyprianos , by the Ottoman rulers of the time.The latter part of his life was plagued by alcoholism. He died on the 18th of December 1917.
In 1978, his portrait was depicted on one of a series of stamps themed on Cypriot poets.
External links
* [http://www.erevos.com/enati/enati.htm Full text of "The 9th of July 1821" in Cypriot dialect and English translation]
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