Spyros Theodoropoulos (Agis Theros)

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Spyros Theodoropoulos, known in literary circles by the pen name Agis Theros, was born in 1875 in Amaliada, in the region of Ilia, and died in 1961. He was one of the most multifaceted and creative figures of Greek intellectual life in the first half of the 20th century. A poet, sociologist, folklorist, advocate of the Demotic Greek language, and politician, Theodoropoulos lived a life committed to popular tradition, language, social struggle, and the intellectual emancipation of the Greek people.

His literary career began in 1901 with a translation of the one-act play Deux douleurs (Two Sorrows) by François Coppée, which he dedicated to the “Nea Skini” (New Stage) of Konstantinos Christomanos. That was a formative period during which Theodoropoulos was shaping his literary identity and aligning himself with the Demoticist movement, which he served with zeal throughout his life.

From 1901 to 1910, he published the annual Spartiatic Calendar, a pioneering publication for its time, unique in its content and organization. The calendar included anything related to Laconia: folklore and historical materials, poems, antiquities, information about production, trades, and even the local dialect. Thanks to its precision and wealth of information, the Spartiatic Calendar remains a valuable source for studying Laconian society and daily life of that era.

Theodoropoulos also published, for one year, the weekly newspaper Lakedaimon and served as editor-in-chief of the daily Sotiria, which was distinguished by its resistance to monarchy and authoritarian expressions of power. In his articles, poems, and prose, he consistently and fervently used the Demotic language, faithful to the belief that the people's language was the only authentic vehicle for national and cultural identity.

Beyond his vibrant literary activity, Theodoropoulos also played an important role in social and political life. In 1910, he was actively involved in founding the Athens Workers' Center, demonstrating his connection to the progressive social ideas of the time. As a member of parliamentary committees, he drafted the first labor legislation, revealing his commitment to social justice and progress.

He was elected three times as a Member of Parliament with the Venizelist party—in 1910, 1912, and 1923—representing a current of political Demoticism that sought to reform society based on humanism, education, and labor protection. In 1922, after signing the “Democratic Manifesto” alongside other democratic politicians, he was arrested and imprisoned, confirming his dedication to principles that transcended political cost.

As a folklorist, he was closely associated with the circle of Nikolaos Politis and was one of the founding members of the Hellenic Folklore Society (December 1908). His first book, in 1909, was a collection of folk songs—an area that remained his lifelong passion. The fruit of his long engagement with Greek oral tradition was the two-volume work The Songs of the Greeks (1951–1952), which was awarded by the Academy of Athens and is considered a landmark not only in folklore studies but also in literary composition. Theodoropoulos wrote that his aim was “the synthesis or blending of variations, guided solely by literary aesthetic judgment.”

Theodoropoulos served for many years as president of the Society of Greek Writers and represented Greece at numerous international literary congresses, helping to strengthen the international presence of Greek letters.

In 1940, at an advanced age, he published his first poetry collection Human Things, which received an award from the Ministry of Education. Several other poetry collections followed, celebrating the Greek Resistance during World War II and depicting lyrical landscapes and experiences from rural life. His poetry is characterized by intense lyricism and a traditional style—often rhetorical but always authentic—deeply influenced by the language and spirit of Greek folk songs, which he considered the quintessence of the Greek soul.

Spyros Theodoropoulos was not merely a writer, but a living intellectual force. He combined poetic sensitivity with social thought and folkloric precision with literary artistry. His work stands as one of the most significant bridges between traditional Greek culture and modern reflection—a testament to how intellectual creation can meet action and social responsibility.

Works

Literary and Translational Work

1901 – Translation of the one-act play Deux douleurs by François Coppée, dedicated to Konstantinos Christomanos’ “Nea Skini.”

1940 – Human Things (T' anthrópina), Agis Theros' first poetry collection, awarded by the Ministry of Education.

1940–1950 – A series of poetry collections followed, with themes including:

Greek National Resistance during World War II

Lyrical depictions of rural life and ethnographic sketches

Influence of folk song—his principal source of inspiration and technique

Folklore Work

1909 – First publication: a collection of Greek folk songs, focusing on traditional oral heritage.

1951–1952 – The Songs of the Greeks, a monumental two-volume work:

Awarded by the Academy of Athens.

Significant contribution to both folklore and literature.

Features creative syntheses of song variants, guided by the author's literary-aesthetic criteria.

Result of decades of research, in close collaboration with Nikolaos Politis' circle.

A landmark in Greek folkloric scholarship.

Journalism and Publishing Activities

1901–1910 – Editor and publisher of the annual Spartiatic Calendar:

Groundbreaking for its time, focused on Laconia.

Included history, folklore, poetry, archaeology, and economy.

An invaluable resource on early 20th-century Laconian life.

Before 1910 – Publisher of the weekly newspaper Lakedaimon.

Date unknown – Editor-in-chief of the daily Sotiria, known for its anti-monarchist stance.

Frequent contributor to newspapers and periodicals of the time, with prose and poetry in Demotic Greek.

Social and Political Writings

Author of several books on:

Labor rights

Demotic language advocacy

Cooperatives and social organization

Drafted some of the first labor legislation as a member of parliamentary committees.