Melissanthi () was the pen name used by Eve Chougia-Skandalaki (; April 8, 1910 – November 9, 1991), a

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

poet, teacher and journalist. Some sources say that she died in 1990. Her first name also appears as Ivi or Hebe; her surname also appears as Koúyia or Koughia. She was born Eve Chougia in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

and studied music, drawing, ballet and classical dance. From 1923 to 1924, she was in a Swiss sanitarium recovering from

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. She studied French, German and English at institutes in Athens. She went on to teach French in Athens high schools. She also contributed critical essays to newspapers and literary journals. In 1932, she married Giannes Skandalákis (). Her first poetry collection ''Phōnes entomou'' (Insect voices) was published in 1930. She went on to publish ten poetry collections. A collection of her poetry ''Ta poiimata tis Melissanthis 1930-1974'' (The poems of Melissanthi) was published in 1976. She also wrote a children's play ''O mikros adhelfos'' (The little brother), which received the Sikiaridio Prize. She translated the works of foreign poets such as

Robert Frost Robert Lee Frost (March26, 1874January29, 1963) was an American poet. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American Colloquialism, colloquial speech, Frost frequently wrote about settings from rural life in New E ...

Emily Dickinson Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massac ...

and

Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was an Austrian poet and novelist. Acclaimed as an Idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic and expressive poet, he is widely recognized as ...

into Greek. Her early poetry draws its inspiration from religious themes; later poems are influenced by

existential Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value ...

concepts. Awards that she received include: * an Athens Academy Award in 1936 for ''O gyrismos tou asotou'' * a Palamas Honourable Mention in 1945 for ''Lyriki Exomologisi'' * a State Prize for Poetry in 1965 * a Gold Cross of the Order of Deeds of Merit in 1965

Selected works

Source: * ''Profiteies'' (Prophecies) (1931, 1940) * ''O gyrismos tou asotou'' (Return of the prodigal) (1935) * ''Lyriki Exomologisi'' (Lyrical confessions) (1945) * ''Anthropino Schima'' (Human shape) (1961) * ''To fragma tis Siopis'' (The barrier of silence) (1965)

References

1910 births 1991 deaths Pseudonymous women writers Greek women poets 20th-century Greek poets 20th-century women writers 20th-century Greek journalists 20th-century pseudonymous writers {{Greece-writer-stub