Introduction

“Melos Erotiko” is a collection of 10 Ancient Lyric Poems with the theme of Eros, in contemporary rendition and music. It also includes narration with an original musical background, depicting the ancient story of “Love and Soul”. This project is presented through the website meloserotiko.com, the relevant You Tube channel, the Facebook page Melos Erotiko, as well as through digital platforms as “Melos Erotiko” album

“Melos Erotiko” is not intended to add a new translation with academic purposes. We provide such sources as “links” in this website. Instead, this work focuses on renditioning rhyming lyrics (in contemporary Greek) and developing songs, hoping that we will convey some of the grace of the ancient poems to the present day, in an approachable manner.

Ancient Lyric Poetry

As known, Lyric Poetry originated in Ancient Greece, primarily during the archaic and classical periods (7th-5th centuries BCE). It was named so because it was often recited (or perhaps sung) by the poet, accompanied by a musical instrument, such as the ancient Greek Lyre. Lyric poems had diverse themes, often focusing on Love. Eros was considered by the Ancient Greeks as a deity (the son of the goddess Aphrodite) and one of the primary factors for the creation of the world (Hesiod’s “Cosmogony”).

There is abundant material that has reached us, with several translations of these poems. Unfortunately, the music that accompanied them has not been transmitted to us. Moreover, very few musical pieces and related elements from antiquity have survived to this day. However, in recent years, efforts have been made for contemporary poetic adaptation and musical composition of lyric poems, with notable examples being the two poems of Sappho and Euripides, included in Manos Hatzidakis’ “Megalos Erotikos.”

Melos Erotiko: content

“Melos Erotiko” aims to gather a representative collection of ancient lyric poems centered around Eros. It includes the magnificent hymns “Eros Akoimetos” (Sleepless love) by Ibycus, “Eros aníkate” by Sophocles, and “Áphyktos oïstós” by Euripides. Additionally, it features the tender poems “To glykó mílo” (Sweet apple) by Sappho and “Mílo egó” (The apple is me) by Plato. The playful, spirited songs of Anacreon, “Foradítsa” (Filly) and “Hymnóntas tin” (Praising her) are also present. Also Ibycus with “Kypridos díchty” (Cypris’ net) and Alcman with “Kerylos” describe the sorrows of those who, in the twilight of their lives, experienced love! Finally, Rufinus with “Louómeni” (Girl taking bath) and Archilochus with “Chaïdeúontas” (Touching her) paint sensual, tender, and daring images that can be even misunderstood, given today’s moral standards.

Melos Erotiko: main characteristics

The project “Melos Erotiko” began several years ago when Konstantinos Martinides, driven by a great love and interest in the research of ancient sources, decided to render these poems lyrically.

Interestingly, while remaining  quite faithful to the ancient text, he managed to create verses in colloquial Greek, which, in addition to solid meter, they have a simplicity and immediacy that, at several points, resemble strongly the lyrics of Greek traditional songs.

This was captured significantly during the musical composition by Michalis Michaleris, incorporating elements reminiscent of Greek traditional songs. The musical composition relied on Greek rhythms (including 7/8, 9/8, 5/8) and shows clear influences from Greek composers’ relevant efforts during the recent decades. However, there was no intention to “reproduce” the “ancient sound”, (which, in similar attempts today, takes on an ambient character, for some reason).

Melos Erotiko: project evolution till the current recording

The project “Melos Erotiko” has a long history. The first lyrics and versions of these songs were created in the late ’90s. In 2005, Anacreon’s “Foradítsa” (Filly) was included in the album “Pyrovátes,” released by “Melodiko Karavi.” Since May 2024, the majority of these songs are released through digital platforms as “Melos Erotiko” album. Also through simple You Tube videos focusing on the lyrics. The work as a whole is also presenter in the website meloserotiko.com, including the ancient texts, information about the poets, lyrics in Greek and English etc.

The current recording (that took place mainly during the pandemic), combined natural instruments (percussion, guitars, oud) with sample libraries of classical and pre-classical instruments (by VSL, NI, Spectrasonics, Westgate, Embertone & Fluffy Audio), as well as sounds of ancient Greek instruments (sample libraries from Soundiron and Big Fish, capturing instruments made by Panagiotis Stefos and Nikolaos Brass). All instruments & voices are performed, recorded and mixed by Michalis Michaleris. Mastering by Anestis Psaradakos- Athens Mastering.

Project credits

Konstantinos Martinides was born in December 1959 in Thessaloniki, where he lives with his family. He is a veterinarian, with specialization and years of experience in the field of Avian Pathology. He has written children’s short stories, plays and poetry collections. He participated in the album “Pyrovates” with lyrics that are part of his work on ancient Greek erotic poetry “Eros sings in Myrsinias”. In 2023 his novel “The Dance of Lamia” was published by “Pigi”.

Michalis Michaleris: Started playing several musical instruments as self-taught since childhood and then studied oud and theory of eastern music with Christos Tsiamoulis as his teacher. Also developed expertise in music production, following closely the evolution of music technology. Two albums featuring his music were released: “Pyrovates” (2005 by “Melodiko Karavi”) and “Colors in Tune” (2015 by “Music Corner”). He studied Veterinary Medicine and professionally engaged in Pharmaceutical Marketing as an executive in multinational companies and as a lecturer in postgraduate programs at the Universities of Athens and Thessaloniki.

The videos and the website of “Melos Erotiko” include translation of the lyrics (from contemporary Greek to English). We thank Eftychia Martinidou for her valuable contribution in this translation. You may also visit “Links”where you can find indicatively selected sources focusing on translation of the ancient text to English