L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano R ecently, while b r o w s i n g t h e net, I stumbled upon an article b y N i c k K a m - p o u r i s i n G r e e k R e p o r t e r t h a t t i c k l e d m y interest about the close ties between Greek and Italian cultures. Mind, that we and t h e G r e e k s a r e c u l t u r a l l y c l o s e i s s o m e t h i n g w e a l l learn when we are in Ele- m e n t a r y s c h o o l a n d g e t acquainted for the first time w i t h t h e h i s t o r y o f Antiquity. Still, even if not surpris- ing, it's certainly fascinating h o w t h e s e t w o c o u n t r i e s share so much, especially when you also think that, as mentioned by Kampouris, p e o p l e i n S o u t h e r n I t a l y have a lot in common geneti- cally with Greeks. So, it's time to take a bet- ter look at our Greek Con- nections, don't you think? Our common history The relationship between Italy and Greece is deeply rooted in history and began w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of Magna Graecia. This t e r m r e f e r s t o t h e G r e e k colonies in Southern Italy and Sicily, founded around the 8th century BC, which significantly influenced local culture, language, and tradi- tions, making this region an extension of Greek civiliza- tion. Magna Graecia, or "Great G r e e c e , " w a s a r e s u l t o f Greek expansion prompted by a search for new trade routes and agricultural land; among the most important - and earliest - Greek cities in Southern Italy, we should mention Cumae, Tarentum, and Heraclea, all of which played a crucial role in the spread of Greek culture, lan- guage, and political ideas in the Italian Peninsula. These colonies were not isolated outposts though, rather they were vibrant centers of Hel- lenic life and thought, that brought with them advance- ments in art, philosophy, and governance. During the Hellenistic period, these cities contin- ued to flourish, becoming vital cultural and trade cen- ters. The influence of Greek culture was so profound that even the Roman civilization, which eventually engulfed the region, was heavily influ- enced by Hellenic customs and learning. The Romans themselves referred to this a r e a a s M a g n a G r a e c i a , acknowledging the signifi- c a n c e o f G r e e k c u l t u r e there. Let's move forward to the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire and to the steady role of the Eastern R o m a n E m p i r e i n t h e development of Italian and European culture. Undoubt- e d l y , t h e p r e s e n c e i n t h e p e n i n s u l a o f t h e B y z a n - tines further reinforced the country's ties with its orien- t a l c o u s i n s . D u r i n g t h e i r rule, especially in southern Italy, Greek remained the d o m i n a n t l a n g u a g e , a n d Byzantine art and architec- ture left a lasting mark. This era saw a fusion of Greek and Roman traditions that persisted even after the fall of Byzantium. D u r i n g t h e e a r l y 1 4 t h c e n t u r y , i n F l o r e n c e , Byzantine Greek scholars initiated a shift in Renais- s a n c e t h o u g h t , w h i c h involved a move from a cen- tral emphasis on rhetoric to metaphysical philosophy, partly through the introduc- tion and reinterpretation of Platonic texts. In Venice and Padua, t h e s e s c h o l a r s a l s o c h a l - l e n g e d t h e d o m i n a n c e o f Aristotelian science and phi- losophy, supplementing it with Byzantine traditions based on ancient and Byzan- tine commentaries on Aris- totle. Their influence extend- ed to Rome by the mid-15th century, emphasizing the production of more authen- tic and reliable versions of Greek texts relevant to all fields of humanism and sci- e n c e . O n e n o t a b l e f i g u r e was Cardinal Bessarion, whose work on the exegesis of the New Testament and biblical emendations signifi- cantly impacted Renaissance thought. Among the most influen- t i a l B y z a n t i n e s c h o l a r s was Manuel Chrysoloras, who was hired as a professor i n F l o r e n c e i n 1 3 9 7 : h i s t e a c h i n g s r e s t o r e d t h e knowledge of classical Greek in Italy and had a profound i m p a c t o n e a r l y I t a l i a n h u m a n i s t s , w h i l e J o h n Argyropoulos was known for translating Aristotle's works into Latin and for his contributions to philoso - phy. Georgios Gemistos Plethon, another Byzantine thinker, played a crucial role in the revival of Platonism d u r i n g t h e R e n a i s s a n c e : Plethon's treatise "On the Difference Between Aristotle and Plato" inspired Cosimo de' Medici to found the Pla- tonic Academy of Flo- r e n c e , l e d b y M a r s i l i o F i c i n o , o n e o f t h e m o s t important Renaissance Pla- tonists. This reintroduction of Platonic philosophy was a critical element of Renais- sance thought, influencing figures like Raphael, as seen i n h i s f r e s c o " S c h o o l o f Athens," where Plato and Aristotle are central figures. In the same period, Greek standards deeply influenced Italian art and architecture, t o o . E x p r e s s i o n s l i k e maniera greca describe Ital- ian works from the 13th and early 14th centuries, that showed Byzantine influence, as beautifully demonstrated b y m a s t e r p i e c e s l i k e t h e B a s i l i c a d i S a n M a r c o i n V e n i c e , a n d t h e w o r k s of Duccio di Buoninseg- na in Siena. Even Renais- s a n c e a r c h i s t a r F i l i p p o Brunelleschi was influ- enced by Byzantine aesthetic standards! The Italian Greeks of today In modern times, the his- torical connection between Greece and Italy continues through the Griko people, a Greek-speaking communi- ty in Southern Italy, primari- ly found in the regions of Calabria and Apulia, specifi- cally in the Grecía Salenti- na and Bovesia areas. The Griko language, spoken by t h e s e c o m m u n i t i e s , i s a u n i q u e b l e n d o f a n c i e n t Doric, Byzantine Greek, and Italian elements, living proof of the enduring Greek influ- ence in the region. I n B o v e s i a ( C a l a b r i a ) , Griko speakers are concen- trated in villages like Bova Superiore, Bova Marina, and Condofuri, among others. In Grecia Salentina (Apulia), the Griko language is found in villages such as Calimera, M a r t i g n a n o , a n d S o l e t o . Unfortunately, though, its knowledge has been fading in some towns over the past one hundred or so years and, for this reason, there has been a notable effort to pro- m o t e G r i k o a n d m o d e r n Greek as compulsory sub- j e c t s i n s c h o o l s i n t h e s e regions. This initiative is part of a broader goal to pre- s e r v e a n d c e l e b r a t e t h e unique cultural identity of these communities. Apart from linguistic ties, the Greek and Italian cul- tures share also other simi- larities, particularly in their c u i s i n e . T h e M e d i t e r - r a n e a n d i e t , w h i c h i s prevalent in both Greece and Southern Italy, emphasizes the use of fresh vegetables, fruits, olive oil, and seafood. Dishes like pasta, which is a staple in Italian cuisine, find a parallel in Greek kitchens with pastas like orzo. More- over, the use of herbs and spices such as oregano, basil, a n d t h y m e i s c o m m o n i n both traditions, reflecting a shared culinary heritage that goes well beyond national boundaries. FRANCESCA BEZZONE Griko people of Bovesia (Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons agreement. Ragaznite/CC BY-SA 3.0) The Greek Connection: why Italians and Greeks are more than geographical neighbors LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE

• Cover