Srpske lirske pesme u grčkoj periodici (1864 – 1939) (original) (raw)

Das Interesse der Griechen für das serbische lyrische Volksschaffen äußerte sich in drei besonderen Wellen (im sieben Jahrzehnt des 19. Jh., gleich zu Beginn des 20. Jh. und im dritten und vierten Jahrzehnt des 20. Jh.). Die von Tommaseo, Koumanoudis, Martsokis oder Velianitis in führenden literarischen oder volkstümlichen Zeitschriften erschienenen Übersetzungen, hatten außer einer kulturellen auch eine politische Mission. Die Instrumentalisierung der geistigen Werte für den Bedarf der politischen Annäherung zeigt auch die Änderungen im Selbstverständnis des griechischen nationalen Wesens auf. The complexity of cultural relations between Serbia and Greece was deepened through centuries by unfavorable historical and political circumstances, and one of the restraining factors was the lack of knowledge of the language. Therefore, it is only understandable that folk poems of the two nations, although with many a common motif, and with similar poetic expression, were first translated and presented in Western Europe, and then, several decades later, and in small numbers, in both countries. The model of utilizing folklore, history and literature in building awareness of the spiritual unity, of belonging to the nation and its ‘grand idea’ both with the Serbs and the Greeks, starting from the first half of 19th century turned out to be applicable at the international level. Turning towards Serbia and seeking for the common issues in the poetry as the best reflection of “Serbian soul” indicates the change in the Greek idea of their neighbors as the “second-rate nation”, “heroes and barbarians”. The onset of overcoming the self-perception of the Greek being as superior in the Balkans, initiated in 1864/65, intensified in 1904/1906, reached the turning point in the 1922s. The persecution of Greeks during the so called Asia Minor Catastrophe and the disintegration of the Great Idea were a powerful reminder of the collapse of the Serbian empire at Kosovo and provided the opportunity for them to identify with the Orthodox “Sister Serbia”.