Welcome to the website of the Hellenist and comparativist

Curriculum vitae

KOSTAS YIAVIS

Assistant Professor of Modern Greek and Comparative Literature

Greek Faculty,
University of Thessaloniki,
54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Room: 205 (new building).
Telephone: +30 2310 99 7537.
Facs.: +30 2310 99 7537.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Personal Information

Citizenship: Greek (mandatory military service: January 2001-May 2002).
Marital Status: Married; one daughter, aged 9.

Employment History            

Education                  

Journal Editorships

           
Service to the Profession

Judge for Greek State Prizes for Literature, 2016-.

Assessor for the U.S. Government, Department of Education: FLAS Fellowships awarded by Cornell University, Institute of European Studies, 2007.

President of Evaluating Committee for Fulbright Scholarships, Cornell University, 2007 and 2009.

 Advisor, Hellenic Students Association, Cornell University, 2007-8 and 2009-10.

Awards and Scholarships

Publications

a. Books

1. Imperios and Margarona: A Critical Edition of the Rhymed Romance. Athens: Μορφωτικό Ίδρυμα της Εθνικής Τραπέζης (in press, expected before next Easter), 91 pp. Βibliography + 630 pp. + 31 Tables.

This book is on a wildly popular romance which features prominently in the European vernacular canon with over three hundred versions in all languages, including Hebrew and Armenian. It is a critical edition of a Greek adaptation which ultimately derives from a French piece of prose dating from the twelfth century.  The driving concern of the edition is to recalibrate post-Byzantine literary criticism in line with the start of the European Renaissance. Here, for the first time, an Early Modern Greek romance is established as part of the Western tradition. The book demonstrates the subtle cultural transformations that allowed the medieval sources to be pieced together in a way that anticipated modernity. An examination of the surprisingly large number of analogues, which range from Gilgamesh to Shahnameh to Provençal poetry, discovers intricate routes of cultural exchange in the Mediterranean. Throughout, the book pushes traditional philological approaches. The Stemma concludes an eighty-year debate by determining the precedence of nineteen witnesses (some of which are pivotal for Greek literature; some were discovered in the course of this research). The Description of Witnesses is a full proposal for the codicological description of manuscripts and prints, which intends to challenge the dominance of palaeography in Greek scholarship. The Commentary should rank among the most comprehensive in editions of vernacular literature

2. Ιμπέριος. Η ομοιοκατάληκτη μορφή.  Χρηστική έκδοση.  Thessaloniki: Ίδρυμα Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών Τριανταφυλλίδη (in press). 

b. Articles

1. «Η εκμετάλλευση της κοσμικής μυθιστορίας από τα αγιολογικά κείμενα.  Η περίπτωση του Αλεξίου του ανθρώπου του Θεού».  In Festschrift for Karin Boklund, ed. by Kostas Yiavis, Thessaloniki: Επίκεντρο, 2017 (in press).
2. “Challenging Textual Authority in the late Byzantine translations”.  In Palaiologan Romance, edited by Adam Goldwyn and Ingela Nilsson, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017 (in press).
3. «Ερωτόκριτος και Aretusa».  In Ερωτόκριτος, νέες προοπτικές, ed. by Σωτηρία Σταυρακοπούλου, Τασούλα Μαρκομιχελάκη and Τ. Καπλάνης, Thessaloniki: Γράφημα, 2017, pp. 173-90.
4.  «Πολιτισμική κινητικότητα και λογοτεχνία του Μεσαίωνα».  In Περάσματα, μεταβάσεις, διελεύσεις, ed. by M. Chryssanthopoulos, M. Mike etal., Thessaloniki, 2017 (in press).
5. «Ο Κρητικός Πόλεμος στη συλλογική φαντασία της Δύσης».  In Proceedings of the Twelfth International Congress of Cretan Studies, ed. by Alexis Kalokairinos, in http://12iccs.proceedings.gr/el/proceedings/category/38/33/65
6. «Στρατηγικές και στόχοι στην έκδοση της πρώιμης νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας.  Ένα παράδειγμα». In Πρακτικά  της Ημερίδας ‘Η εκδοτική των κειμένων της νεοελληνικής γραμματείας’.  Ημερίδα αφιερωμένη στην μνήμη της Ε. Παχίνη-Τσαντσάνογλου και του Γ. Π. Σαββίδη, ed. by Αγγελική Λούδη, Thessaloniki: Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης, 2016, pp. 39-51.
7. “The Adaptations of Western Sources by Byzantine Vernacular Romances”. In Fictional Storytelling in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean and Beyond, ed. by Carolina Cupane and Bettina Krönung, Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2016, pp. 127-55.
8. “Persian Chronicles, Greek Romances: The Haft Paykar and Velthandros”.  In A Festschrift for David W. Holton, ed. by E.  Camatsos, T. Kaplanis και J. Pye, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scolars Publishing, 2014, pp. 23-45.
9. “The Topos of Attack on Courtly Banquets”.  Σύγκριση/Comparaison 23 (2013): 5-42.
10. “Interdependence of Text and Manuscript in the Sixteenth Century”.  In Neograeca medii aevi 6, ed. by Γ. K. Μαυρομάτη and N. Αγιώτη, Heraklion: Βικελαία, 2012, pp. 197-214.
11. «[Βρετανικές επιδράσεις στην ελληνική λογοτεχνία]», in Λεξικό νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας, ed. by Λ. Κουζέλη, Athens: Πατάκης, 2007, pp. 1368-73.
12. Entries «Dawkins», «Papastavrou», «George Thompson».  ibid.: pp. 463, 2434, 2170-1.
13. “So Near Yet So Far: Medieval Courtly Romance and Imberios and Margarona”, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 99:1 (2006): 195-217.
14. “Finding Imberios and Margarona: An Inventory of Extant Editions”, Ελληνικά 56:2 (2006): 321-45.
15. “Chaucer and the Death of the Father as a Figure of Authority”, Gramma: Journal of Theory and Criticism 9 (2001): 13-29.
16. “Life-giving Waters and the Waters of the Cephise: Fairie Queene I, XI, 29-30”, Classical and Modern Literature 19 (1998): 77-82.

c. Book Reviews

1. Modern Greek Dictionary, 3rd edition, by G. Babiniotis.
   Anglo-Hellenic Review 41(2010): 33.
2. A Byzantine Encyclopaedia of Horse Medicine: The Sources, Compilation, and Transmission of the Hippiatrica, by Anne McCabe.
   Classical Review 59:2 (2009): 443-5.
3. George Boustronios: A Narrative of the Chronicle of Cyprus, 1456–1489, transl. by Nicholas Coureas.
   The English Historical Review 124: 506 (2009): 148-9.
4. Ἀφήγησις Λιβίστρου καὶ Ροδάμνης, by Panagiotis Agapitos, and Livistros and Rodamne. A Critical Edition of Vat. gr. 2391, by Tina Lendari (joint review).
   Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 33:1 (2009): 106-8.
5. Στη χώρα του φεγγαριού: Βρετανίδες περιηγήτριες στην Ελλάδα (1718-1932), edited by Βασιλική Κολοκοτρώνη and Ευτέρπη Μήτση.
   Journal of Modern Greek Studies 26:2 (2008): 506-9.
6. Infamy and Revolt: The Rise of the National Problem in Early Modern Greek Thought, by Dean J. Kostantaras.
   Journal of Modern Greek Studies 26:2 (2008): 509-11.
7. Dictionary of the Medieval Greek Vernacular, 1100-1669, Volume 15, by Emmanouel Kriaras; edited by I.N. Kazazis.
   Anglo-Hellenic Review 38 (2008): 26.
8. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, edited by William Smith.
   Anglo-Hellenic Review 38 (2008): 26-7.
9. Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Daughters: The Byzantine Family of Michael Psellos, edited and translated by Anthony Kaldellis; With Contributions by David Jenkins and Stratis Papaioannou. Journal of Hellenic Studies 128 (2008): 287-8.
10. Robert de Clari, La Conquête de Constantinople, edited by Peter Noble.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 37 (2008): 24-5.
11. The Renaissance: A Very Short Introduction, by Jerry Brotton.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 37 (2008): 25-6.
12. History of the Byzantine Jews: A Microcosmos in the Thousand-Year Empire, by Elli Kohen. Bulletin of Judaeo-Greek Studies 41 (2007-8): 25-7.
13. Lorenzo de’ Medici: Collector and Antiquarian, by Laurie Fusco and Gino Corti.
    The Medieval Review 07.10.18 (2007).
    See: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/tmr/article/view/16459/22577
14. The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe, by Elizabeth Eisenstein.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 35 (2007): 21-2.
15. In the Beginning: Bibles before the Year 1000, edited by Michelle P. Brown. Catalogue of the eponymous exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 36 (2007): 21-2.
16. A Modern Greek-English Dictionary, by D.J. Georgacas.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 34 (2006): 23.
17. Apokopos, edited by Peter Vejleskov, translated into English by Margaret Alexiou.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 34 (2006): 23-4.
18. Salonica, City of Ghosts: Christians, Muslims, and Jews, 1430-1950, by Mark Mazower.
    Journal of Mediterranean Studies 15 (2006): 178-80.
19. Warriors and Their Weapons around the Time of the Crusades, by David Nicolle.
    Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (2006): 98-100.
20. Lady Hester: Queen of the East, by Lorna Gibb.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 32 (2005): 22.
21. Ithaca, Journal of the National Book Centre of Greece.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 31 (2005): 25.
22. White Gold, by Giles Milton. Anglo-Hellenic Review 31 (2005): 19-20.
23. The Rise of Oriental Travel: English Visitors to the Ottoman Empire, 1580-1720, by Gerald M. Maclean.
    Anglo-Hellenic Review 30 (2004): 28-9.

Work in Progress

Monograph

“The Emergence into modernity and vernacular Greek literature”

The book attempts to introduce the critical definitions for the study of the departure from the Middle Ages towards cultural modernity.

Talks and Invited Lectures

1.    Thessaloniki University, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek: «Πολιτισμική κινητικότητα και λογοτεχνία του Μεσαίωνα» in the conference entitled, Περάσματα, μεταβάσεις, διελεύσεις (March 3, 2017).

2.    12^th International Congress of Cretan Studies: «Ο κρητικός πόλεμος στην συλλογική φαντασία της Δύσης» (September 25, 2016).

3.    München Universität, Institut für Byzantinistik, Byzantinische Kunstgeschichte und Neogräzistik, Three lectures, entitled “The Greek Renaissance”, “Erotocritos and European Literature” and “The Construction of Modern Greek Literature” (November 14-18, 2015).

4. Universität Wien, Institut für Byzantinistik und Neogräzistik, Vienna Dialogues People on the Move and the Ideas they Bring: Mobility of Ideas, Motifs and Texts in Byzantium and Beyond: “Cultural Mobility and Exchange in the Vernacular Byzantine Romance” (invited lecture, May 30, 2015).

5.    Thessaloniki University, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek: «Ερωτόκριτος και Aretusa», in the conference entitled, «Ο Ερωτόκριτος του Βιτσέντζου Κορνάρου: ερευνητικές προτάσεις και προοπτικές» (May 29, 2015).

6.    Thessaloniki University, Institute of Modern Greek Studies: «Στρατηγικές και στόχοι στην έκδοση του Ιμπερίου», in the colloquium entitled, «Εκδοτική των κειμένων της Νεοελληνικής Γραμματείας» (invited lecture, April 27, 2015).

7.    Frei Universität Berlin, Institut für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie:
“Persian Chronicles, Greek Romances” (invited talk, May 25, 2014).

8.    Frei Universität Berlin, Institut für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie:
“From philology to cultural history” (invited talk, April 29, 2014).

9.    Munich Universität, “Did the Byzantines Read Persian Literature?” (invited talk, June 9, 2013)

10. Hamburg Universität: “The Reformation that Never Was: Greek Vernacular Literature of the Sixteenth Century” (invited talk, November 23, 2011).

11. McGill University, Classics Department: “Emergence of Greek Literature into Modernity” (invited talk, March 30, 2011).

12. Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC: “Editing Early Modern Greek Literature” (Byzantinissimum, January 25, 2011).

13. Dumbarton Oaks: “The Earliest Vernacular Translations into Greek” (Fellows’ Lecture series, January 24, 2011).

14. Yeshiva University, Law School, New York: “The Parthenon Marbles” (invited presentation, April 22, 2010).

15. Cornell University: “The Invention of Early Modern Literature” (May 3, 2010).

16. Princeton University, Group for the Study of Late Antiquity: “Medieval Palaeography and Codicology” (April 8, 2009).

17. Princeton University, Program in Hellenic Studies: “Medieval into Renaissance in Greek Literature” (December 2, 2008).

18. Cornell University: “The Political Cinema of Costa Gavras” (1 November 2007).

19. Cornell University: “Making the Self in Modern Greek Literature: The Case of Nikos Kazantzakis” (11 October 2007).

20. Cornell University: “The Greek Dialect of Southern Italy” (28 March 2007).

21. Cornell University, Department of Near Eastern Studies: “Eastern Influences in Byzantine Literature” (5 March 2007).

22. University of Ioannina, Greece, Neograeca Medii Aevi VI: “Towards a Critical Edition of Imberios” [in Greek] (30 September 2005).

23. University of Oxford, SCOMGIU Colloquium: “Old Wine in New Bottles: Manuscript Tradition and Printed Editions in Sixteenth–century Literature” (8 June 2005).

24. University of Cambridge, Faculty of English, Drama Seminar: Paper on “The Myth of Oedipus in Greek Literature” (invited panelist, 18 October 2004).

25. University of Leeds, International Medieval Congress: “Imberios and Margarona: A Post-Byzantine Rhymed Romance and its Western Europe Analogues” (12 July 2004).

26. University of Cambridge, Selwyn College: “Ideology at Work in Adaptations of Popular Romances” (19 March 2004).

27. University of Cambridge, Selwyn College, MCR Seminar: “Making a Difference: The Invention of English Literary Renaissance” (15 May 2003).

28. University of Thessaloniki, English Department: “Chaucer’s Impact on English Poetry” (invited lecture, 3 June 2002).

29. University of Thessaloniki, English Department: “Insolence in English Petitionary Poetry of the Fourteenth Century” (invited talk, 18 January 2001).

Teaching and Research Interests

•    All things Greek, Byzantine to 21st century.
•    History of the vernacular
•    Byzantine romance
•    Cultural exchanges in the Middle Ages
•    Technologies of reading
•    Humanities and civic responsibility