The significance of the Greek Civil War and its enduring influence of Greek literature was the topic of a recent lecture from visiting academic Dr Michail Bakogiannis at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba NSW.
The lecture on Thursday 21 August was organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at the University of Sydney, as part of an initiative led by Professor Anthony Dracopoulos.
Among those in attendance was the newly appointed Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Georgios Skemperis.
Dr Bakogiannis, an Associate Professor of Modern Greek Literature at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, spoke on why this period is still important.
“This topic is of interest because it has to do with a very difficult historical event in Greece that is still felt by Hellenes around the world,” he said during the lecture according to a media release.
“Wherever there is a Greek community there is a sense of trauma linked to this event.”
He said given that it has and continues to inspire literature, it is evident that that people born in the generations following the Civil War still feel the trauma.
“People in Greece still write about the Civil War. They still discuss it both academically and artistically,” Dr Bakogiannis said.
“Therefore, it is not a topic that just pertains to the past, but also to present day.”
Following the lecture, the GOC treasurer Chris Belerhas presented Dr Bakogiannis with a gift as a token of appreciation for his contribution.
