Achilleys Paraschos

Achilleas Paraschos (1838-1885). Achilleas Paraschos was born in Nafplio, though his family hailed from Chios. His family sought refuge in Nafplio after the island's destruction by the Turks and later settled in Athens, where Paraschos spent most of his life. Information about his education is scarce and uncertain. He learned the basics from his older brother Georgios, who was also a poet. He had two older sisters who perished in the Chios massacre and another sister, Emilia, known for her beauty, who died young and inspired poets Georgios Zalokostas and Rilgen. Paraschos first published his verses in the magazine Avdiritis by Dim. Vratsanos and in Chrysallida. He quickly became popular in the literary circles of the time. During the same period, he joined the anti-Othonian organization "Golden Youth," was persecuted, and imprisoned. He was released from prison following his brother's intervention. However, he continued his activities, writing poems against King Otto and participated in the 1862 uprising that led to Otto's downfall. After the former king's death, he wrote "Elegy to Otto," a poem that showed remorse for his previous actions and made him even more popular. He served as an employee in the Parliament, a prefect of Thira, a consul in Taganrog, Russia, and a secretary of the State General Accounting Office, but in all these positions, he was a sinecure due to his political connections with every government. In reality, Paraschos belonged to the poets who wrote on commission, earning money from their art. He also published poems in newspapers and magazines, recited elegies and celebratory poems, but was mainly known for his love poems, the first of which were dedicated to a certain Maria. Behind this name was a young mentally ill woman hospitalized in a monastery in Thira, whom Paraschos, then the island's prefect, was called to transfer to the Corfu asylum. Paraschos' first poetry collection was published by the Androu Koromilas house in three volumes (epic-lyrical, patriotic and elegies, love poems), which became bestsellers. He then traveled to Greek communities in Russia, France, Romania, and Egypt to promote this collection and was enthusiastically received everywhere. Paraschos was the most popular poet of the First Athenian School and the last representative of Athenian romantic poetry as it declined, with all the linguistic and expressive excesses that entailed. His language was sometimes formal and sometimes mixed. Indicative of his popularity was the participation of his admirers at his funeral, attended by the King, during which over twenty eulogies and poems were recited. Later writers such as Kostis Palamas and Emmanouil Roides wrote about his work. For more biographical details on Achilleas Paraschos, see Vellianitis Th. "Paraschos Achilleus," Great Greek Encyclopedia 19. Athens, Pyrros, 1932, Meraklis M.G., "Achilleus Paraschos," Greek Poetry; Romantics - Palamas Era - Post-Palamas; Anthology - Grammar, pp. 73-74. Athens, Sokolis, 1977, Pharmakis Fr., "Paraschos P. Achilleus," Great Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature 11. Athens, Charis Patsis, n.d. and Ch.S., "Parashos Achilleus," World Biographical Dictionary 8. Athens, Ekdotiki Athinon, 1988. (Source: Archive of Greek Writers, EKEBI).