NAME: Epaminondas Gavras of (Unknown father’s name) and (Unknown mother’s name)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Amorgos
PLACE OF DEATH: Amorgos
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Amorgos
SPOUSE / MAIDEN NAME: Unknown / Unknown
PROFESSION: Diplomat, Notary
Instrument: Folk Poet – Rhyme Improviser
The following biographical note on the folk poet Epaminondas D. Gavras was written by the Amorgian philologist – researcher Georgios A. Mavros. It was extracted from the archive of the latter which was granted in its entirety to the Digital Audiovisual Folk Music Archive of Amorgos and its Islands. The structure, the spelling, and the punctuation of the text in Greek have been preserved. The English translation has been mildly edited.
He was born in Hora Amorgos. His parents were D. M. Gavras, Judge, and M. N. Vlavianou. In 1861 he was appointed to the Greek Embassy in Constantinople. He reached the rank of Consul and served in Constantinople and Alexandria. Later he returned to Amorgos and worked as a notary. He was an excellent instrumentalist and rhyme improviser. His poems were improvisatory and have not been published. He even drew riddles. His residence was the renowned Sala Gavra. This is the building that currently houses the Archaeological Collection of Amorgos. It stands in the centre of Hora, and is of Venetian design. Othon was hosted there in June 1833 on his tour with the “Magadascari.” Since 1963, after its donation by Sophie E. Giannakou, it belongs to the Amorgian Association.