Ancient Greek Myths in Modern Greek Poetry: Angelos Sikelianos and Daedalus as a Symbol of Freedom

Ancient Greek myths, which have emerged as one of the main sources of inspiration in literature throughout history and have been interpreted many times with different meanings by various authors, have become a powerful tool in conveying themes such as human nature and social values. This relationship, a symbol of cultural continuity, has consistently existed in literary works through its outcomes, such as keeping individual and collective memory alive and enriching the aesthetic and intellectual realms of societies. Myths, which stand out not only as narratives of the past but also by their continual reappearance in literature with different meanings and interpretations across eras, are recorded as one of the key parameters in the poetry of Angelos Sikelianos, a figure regarded as one of the foremost poets of Modern Greek Literature. This study focuses on Sikelianos’ method of establishing connections among Greek history, mythology, nature, and mystical thought, as well as his method of adapting motifs specific to antiquity to the modern period. In this context, his poem Daedalus, analyzed in this study, stands as one of the successful attempts of the poet to build a bridge between the past and the present through poetry, by utilizing mythological characters. It has been determined that Sikelianos portrays the mythological character Daedalus not merely as an architect and inventor, he also depicted him as a figure symbolizing the artistic spirit striving to transcend the boundaries of the world, emphasizing themes such as freedom and creativity.