Cyprus’s most famous poet dies

CYPRUS’ most famous poet Costas Montis died at the age of 90 yesterday at his home in Ayios Dhometios.

Montis was born in Famagusta in 1914. He studied law at Athens University and went on to compose dozens of collections of poems, as well as novels and translated works for theatre.

He wrote works for Greece as well as poetry about his island. Poems such as ‘Drousoula’ that was dedicated to his wife were so popular that they were turned into songs. Montis was described by many in Greece and Cyprus as one of the greatest poets ever.

He was honored with the state award for poetry as well as many other literature prizes and by the Athens Academy throughout his life. He was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1984.

Critic Andreas Hadjithomas said Montis completed the cycle of poetry in Cyprus. “He lived to recite the beauty and trials of Cyprus. He had verse as his weapon and his gift and will always be remembered,” said Hadjithomas.

Supporting his nomination to the Academy of Athens, Professor Nicholas Konomis paid the following tribute to Montis: “With his uninterrupted literary creation of 70 years, he has been able to depict artistically the authentic rhythms, the temperature, and the action of the deepest historical and emotional fluctuations of the soul and breath of Cyprus and her people.

“In his extremely powerful work he has recorded every vibration of the island (erotic, social, political), and all the thoughts of the people of Cyprus have been set down…
2He has made use of the whole wealth of the linguistic, historical, and cultural tradition of greater Hellenism, and entrenched in his work, with unprecedented poetic force, the indelible character of the deep-rooted values of the Greek nation.”
Montis’ funeral arrangements will be made later today.

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