The Lost Goddess

Anna Griva

Melani, 2023

State Prize for Poetry

The poems of this book explore an archetype that defined the history of civilization: Jesus and those connected to him, mainly women, such as Mary, Anna, the bride of Cana, a demoniac, Mary Magdalene, and also their ”successors”, like the mystic Teresa of Avila, Clara and Heloise.

In the poems of The Lost Goddess personalities, who have been reshaped over time by the elimination of certain aspects of their existence in the context of religious doctrines, are restored to their original essence. They become “Children of the Sun” once more, liberated beings embarking on journeys of spiritual ecstasy and erotic unions. Jesus himself becomes a timeless symbol of the man who sought knowledge beyond social stereotypes, a “stranger” whom no one understood – least of all those who indulged, in his name, in a ruthless persecution of various “heresies” over the ages.

Anna Griva studied Philology in Athens and in Rome. She has a PhD on Italian Renaissance Literature. She has published six poetry collections. Her collection The lost goddess (Melani, 2023) was honored with the National Award of Poetry. The collection entitled Demons (Melani, 2020) was honored with an Award by the Academy of Athens. She has also published a collection of short stories (The Animal Gods, Kichli, 2021) and two historical novels (The Greek slave, Melani, 2022; Exiled Queens, Melani, 2021). Her works have been translated into many languages. She translates Italian literature. The translation of the poems of Laura Battiferra was honored by the Italian Institute of Athens. Her novel The Sicilian Witch was awarded the 1st Prize of the Club for UNESCO of Art, Literature and Science of Greece. She has published a study (together with Markos Dendrinos) on the Platonic Parmenides (Ontology of one in the Platonic theory of ideas, Zetros, 2021) and a monograph on the Sapphic poetry (Aphrodites, Smili, 2022). She teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the Hellenic Open University and at the University of Athens. Personal website: https://www.epistemeacademy.org/annagriva/

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