Antonios Matesis

Greek author

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June 30, 2026

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Antónios Mátesis was a Greek author associated with the Heptanesian School of modern Greek literature. He was a follower of Dhionísios Solomós and cultivated the Demotic language. Mátesis is known for his historical social drama, O vasilikós (1859), which translates to "The Basil Plant". This work holds significance as the first prose piece of substantial length written in the Demotic language.1

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Greek literature
Heptanesian School
…to cultivate the Demotic, particularly Antónios Mátesis, whose historical social drama, O vasilikós (1859; “The Basil Plant”), was the first prose work of any length to be written in the Demotic. Aristotélis Valaorítis continued the Heptanesian tradition with long patriotic poems inspired by the Greek national struggles.
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…to cultivate the Demotic, particularly Antónios Mátesis, whose historical social drama, O vasilikós (1859; “The Basil Plant”), was the first prose work of any length to be written in the Demotic. Aristotélis Valaorítis continued the Heptanesian tradition with long patriotic poems inspired by the Greek national struggles.
Read More