Giovanni Meli (4 March 1740 – 20 December 1815) was an Italian poet. Meli was born in

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

. After studying

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

and

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

he worked as a doctor in Cinisi in the province of Palermo. It was during this early period of his life that he discovered the bucolic poets and the poetic value of his native Sicilian language, which he used thereafter in all of his literary works. There is a Monument to Giovanni Meli in Piazza Stazione Lolli in Palermo, Sicily.

Works

His first published piece, ''La Bucolica'' (1766-1772), was inspired by ''Arcadia'' by Jacopo Sannazaro. It was written while he was still working as a doctor in Cinisi. He returned to Palermo soon after, already widely known as a scientist and poet. He dedicated the rest of his life to both collecting works of Sicilian poetry, but most importantly, writing and publishing his own works. His ''Poesii siciliani'' in five volumes was published in 1787, and an edition in six volumes was published in 1814. Besides ''La bucolica'', these collections also contain examples of his satirical verse, such as: ''La fata galanti'' (The courteous fairy, 1762); ''Don Chisciotti e Sanciu Panza'' (''Don Quixote and Sancho Panza'', 1785-1787, a parody inspired by

Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( ; ; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelist ...

' ''

Don Quixote , the full title being ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'', is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, the novel is considered a founding work of Western literature and is of ...

''); ''Favuli murali'' (moral fables, 1810-1814; ''Origini dû munnu'' (the origin of the world, 1768); ''Elegii'' (elegies) e ''Canzunetti'' (little songs).

Achievements

On the tondello (made in gold - unique example -, in silver and in bronze) the face of the poet with a graduate head is depicted on the obverse, while on the reverse the Meli is consecrated as the new "Sicilian Anacreon". The only example in gold was delivered to Meli, together with an autograph letter sent on August 12 from Naples by Prince Leopold himself, composed as follows: "''Abate Meli you liked to associate mine with your great name, dedicating your immortal poems to me, and you did it with so much spirit and with so much heart, that I would not be able to show you my liking enough: I should be showing you my particular esteem for your poetic talents and for your valuable personal qualities. I prefer to unite my desires with those of all the good ones, so that you may live long in virtue, and of the Letters of which you are the delight and the adornment.'' ''Apollo was the father of Aesculapius, and it is perhaps for this reason that you are just as good a doctor, and therefore everyone must have a new interest in your prosperity. I have procured to eternalize my admiration for you, by having a Medal coined in your honor, like one in gold for you, and others in silver and bronze for your friends, and with these the assurances of my particular consideration''".

Example

''Don Chisciotti e Sanciu Panza'' (Cantu quintu)

(~1790)

References

* Accessed May 17, 2007 1740 births 1815 deaths Writers from Palermo Sicilian-language poets Burials at San Domenico, Palermo Writers from the Kingdom of Sicily {{Sicily-stub