Η Σχέση Γεωγραφίας και Πολιτισμού στη Ζωή και στο Έργο του Παναγιώτη Ποταγού
Date Issued
June 1, 2023
Type
Διδακτορική Διατριβή
Abstract
Panagiotis Potagos was the greatest Greek traveller of 19th century. He was born in Bytina of Arcadia in 1837 and his death occurred at Nymphe of Corfu in 1903 where he lived as a hermit. He studied medicine in Athens and began his travels in 1867. He visited Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, China and Rusian empire. From Thessaloniki he toured India through Suez. The Greek commercial presence there will allow him comfortable stay. He will return to Suez to tour Egypt, Sudan and the still terra incognita of Central Africa later named Congo. In particular, he arrived in Egypt in 1876, ascending the Nile River to southern Sudan and finally reached the Uele River of Congo. Having almost zero financial support he tried to locate hellenistic relics in Asia and in Africa and to describe the ethics and the customs of the local and foreign population. He tried to compete the greatest explorers of his time e.g. G.Schweinfurth and collaborated with the National Geographical Societies of Europe. He published an account of his travels (first volume) in 1883, with the help of the university, which was translated in French in 1885. Having failed to be appointed curator of the national library and coming into conflict with Emmanuel Roidis and his cycle he toured the areas of Thessaly and Epirus. He decided to live for 17 years in Corfu, in a remote village of the north part. The result was to fall into obscurity. Few scientific articles have been written so far and no doctoral thesis. Μy research examines the written work of the traveler, both published and unpublished, in conjunction with his life and specifically the decision to retire to Corfu. I emphasize the issue of unpublished material because there is a misconception that his anecdotal work has been lost. The truth is that it is kept in the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece. The first part of my phd consists of a complete Potagos’ biography: I carefully describe his travels and try to confirm his presence there, his communication with geographical societies (especially British and French), the conflict with political and literary circles of Athens and the reasons for his withdrawal to Corfu. I relied on published and unpublished texts, in letters, the greek and foreign press of the time and with great caution the oral history in his last place of residence.In the second part I describe his views on human culture, especially in religion, political and social organization. Ι systematically synthesize the traveler's views on human culture and development, the natural factors that favor him, the the contribution of geography and the complex issue of the Pelasgian populations of the Balkans, the last with its geopolitical aspects.
Subjects