Tasos Falkos - Arvanitakis

The writer and philosopher Tasos Arvanitakis (pen name Tasos Falkos) was born in Thessaloniki. His childhood was marked by the Occupation and the Civil War. During his high school and university years, he was profoundly influenced by ancient literature, particularly Aeschylus and Plato. As a student, he began writing the prose work "The Just," focusing on the hindered actions of people who strive to be guided solely by their conscience. In Brussels, he started composing "Digenis Akritas," where he attempted to describe the dual nature of human existence, the earthly and the divine elements, as well as its extreme, borderline state and the central role of the guardian. During the dictatorship, he was in Paris, where he prepared his doctoral thesis while simultaneously composing "The Attic," a play against the dictatorship and all forms of oppression. Inspired by the death of his father from Asia Minor, he wrote the Asia Minor narratives "The Night" and the novel "The Lake." Believing that there are no substantial distinctions, he merged all the main literary genres into a single work, "Testimonies for an Absent Friend," achieving a kind of "total" literature. His plays primarily satirize human arrogance. He progressed through all academic ranks, serving at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.), the University of Macedonia, and as a visiting professor at the Faculty of Theology of A.U.Th. He also served as Dean at the University of Macedonia. In his scientific works, he explores topics in moral philosophy, ancient religion, and the methodology of sciences. His literary works document the relationship between a conscience and the history of its time, a painful and tragic relationship. Together with his wife, Aristea Arvanitaki, they founded the cultural foundation "Hydria," based in Thessaloniki, dedicating most of their wealth to it and endowing it with their extensive collection of rare editions and folk objects. In total, he has written: LITERATURE - La mansarde (theater), Thessaloniki, 1974. Private edition. - Three Testimonies - The Baptismal Font (two poetry collections), Thessaloniki, 1982. Private edition. - The Attic (theater), Thessaloniki, 1984. Private edition. - The Chronicle of the Just, Athens, Domos, 1992. - The Night (short stories), Athens, Delfini, 1995. - Sketches with Light (15 poems with original engravings by Ingrig Zamecnicova), awarded as "the most beautiful book of Slovakia for the year 1997." Private edition, Bratislava, 1997. - Testimonies for an Absent Friend (novel), Thessaloniki, M. Barbounakis, 1999. - Professor Plouton (theater), Thessaloniki, Private edition, 2001. - Sketches with Light (75 poems), Thessaloniki, Zitros, 2005. - Turkish Night (short stories), Thessaloniki, Zitros, 2009. - The Wolves (composite poem), Thessaloniki, Private edition, 2010. - Patterns and Simulacra (poems), Armos 2016. - The Dream of Hunger and Beauty (theater), Thessaloniki, Private edition, 2017. - The Lake (novel), forthcoming, Zitros. - The Litany (poems, Greek-French), forthcoming, Armos. STUDIES - The Socio-Political Concept of Honor in Plato's Work, Doctoral Thesis. Thessaloniki, Private edition, 1975. - "The Problem of Moral Conscience in Ancient Greece," Thessaloniki, University edition, 1983. - Reverence and Fear of the Gods, Thessaloniki, Private edition, 1984. - Aidos. - The Nature and Significance of Respect and Shame in the Moral Life of Ancient Greeks, Thessaloniki, University Edition, 1984. - Introductory Lessons in Philosophy (Elements of Moral Philosophy), Thessaloniki, Sakkoulas, University Edition, 1985. - Agon: Athletics as a Fundamental Expression of Ancient Greek Culture, Thessaloniki, University Edition, 1989. Awarded by the Academy of Athens in 1993. - Methodology and Technography of Scientific Research, Thessaloniki, University Edition, 1992. - Movement in Plato's Work, Thessaloniki, University Edition, 1996. - Heraclitus: Introduction, Texts, Translation, Editing, Thessaloniki, Zitros, 1999. - Eagles and Ravens (Literary Criticism), Thessaloniki, Private Edition, 1999. - Greek Athletics (Reconstruction and Significant Expansion of Agon), Municipal Center for History and Documentation of Volos, 2003. - Greek Athletics, Municipal Center for History and Documentation of Volos, 2004. - Plato's Phaedo, Prolegomena, Thessaloniki, Zitros, 2007.