T H R O U G H T H E A G E S The Greek poet Constantine Cavafy lived from 1863 to 1933, mainly in Alexandria, Egypt. Worldwide, he is only known to a small circle of people. The themes of his poetry were philosophy, history and the erotic - subjects which he combines in his poems in a fascinating way. Cavafy was a poet in a time of transition between Hellenic ideals and a modern, spiritual new beginning. A new beginning, which is also attributed to him.    Cavafy wrote: “I originally come from Constantinople, but I was born in Alexandria – in a house on Serif Street; I left when I was very young, and spent a large part of my childhood years in England. Later I visited this country when I was older, but only for a short while. I also lived in France. During my teenage ears I spent two years in Constantinople. I haven’t been to Greece for many years. My last occupation was as an employee in a governmental office, which was under the Ministry of Public Works of Egypt. I speak English, French and a little Italian”. As a constant enquirer all his life, Kavafis understood the contradictions of human existence, the decadence of bourgeois morality and the dubiousness of prevailing historiography. It is unfortunate that his brilliant work only posthumously received a fitting appreciation, which nonetheless shows his epoch-transcending relevance. www.kavafis.gr

Picture of Rinaldo Hopf

The Poet