216 GREECE (LANGUAGE, &c.) a very small number of literary productions deserve to be mentioned, aside from the works written in the service of the Greek church. In the 17th century the Greeks were admirers of a very weak idyllic form of poetry, especially of Drymiticos's "Beautiful Shepherdess;" but a few compositions made their appearance which aimed at a more artistic style, and which were more elevated in sentiment, like the "Hel- las " by Allatios. In a strict sense the litera- ture of modern Greece cannot be considered older than the latter part of the 18th century, when Constantinos Rhigas sent out the patri- otic songs that invigorated the national spirit of the Greeks. His most celebrated produc- tion is the imitation of the Marseillaise, begin- ning Afire TralSeq ruv 'EA^vuv / Adamantios Corals, often designated as the father of the lit- erature of modern Greece, may more deservedly be called the literary Hercules of Greece, being a very prolific writer of medical treatises and translator of the classics. It is often asserted, but not equally evident,that he produced a revo- lution in the language of modern Greece. " His linguistic reform was a very simple one," says Geldart; "he proposed to use the classical terminations wherever these were not altogeth- er obsolete, in preference to those which pre- vailed in the mouths of the common people." The Greeks were not slow to follow his rule and the example which he set. Accordingly, the language of the books is somewhat different from that of the people of Greece. On the threshold of the 19th century stand Christo- pulos, Piccolos, and Rizos-Nerulos as writers of lyric songs, tragedies, and comedies, which are characterized by a comparatively pure dic- tion, and also by imitations of French stand- ards. The poetry of Christopulos, whom the Greeks designate as the modern Anacreon, was successfully imitated by the brothers Alexan- der and Panagiotis Sutsos, Calvos, Solomos, and Angelica Pally. Other poets of the pres- ent time who deserve to be noticed are Alex- ander Rizos Rangavis or Rangabe, Orphanidis, Carasutsas, Valaoritis, Zalocostas, Naphtis, Vlachos, and Antoniades. The sciences are represented principally by translations of the most noted works of the Occident, but original works are rapidly increasing. Historical works have been published by Paparigopulos, Cumas, Sutsos, Tricupis, Philimon, Levkias, Zampe- lios, Surmelis, Venizelos, and Sathas. On the geography of various countries have written Philippidis, Constantas, Scarlatos Byzantios, Valetas, and Rangavis. Writers on archeol- ogy are Pantazis, Pittakis, Rangavis, and Lam- bros. Contributions to philology are furnished by Neophytos Ducas, Darvaris, Bambas, Aso- pios, Philip Joannou, Gennadios, Bernardakis, jiud Galanot. The most celebrated mathema- ticians are Vaphas, Pyrrhos, and Zochios. Theological and philosophical writers are Apos- tolidis, Contogonis, Adamidis, Kyriacos, and Agathangelos. See Browne's "History of Classical Literature" (London, 1851); Mure's GREECE (WINES OF) . " Critical History of the Language and Litera- ture of Ancient Greece" (1854-'67); K. O. Miiller's " History of the Literature of Ancient Greece," continued by J. W. Donaldson (1858) ; and Nicolai, GescMcJite der griechischen Litera- tur (Magdeburg, 1865). GREECE, Wines of. As a wine-producing country Greece no longer maintains the repu- tation which she enjoyed in ancient or even in comparatively modern times. With a climate admirably adapted to the culture of the grape, the area devoted to that purpose has steadily diminished. Among the causes which have contributed to this result are the impoverished condition of the soil of large tracts, formerly well wooded and watered, and the rude systems of viticulture in general use. With the destruc- tion of its ancient forests parts of the country are gradually becoming an arid desert; and desolating wars, brigandage, and other internal troubles have combined to restrict the develop- ment of its agricultural resources. In conse- quence, the production of wine in Greece, which was still considerable during the Vene- tian supremacy in the 15th and 16th centuries, has dwindled to a comparatively insignificant amount. In like manner vinification has de- teriorated to such a degree as to make Greek wines compare disadvantageously with those produced in much less favored localities. They contain, as a rule, a large amount of acetic acid, and many of them are rapidly converted into vinegar. To prevent this result various prim- itive practices are resorted to, such as smoking with wood smoke or vapor of resins, pitching the barrels, or adding gypsum, chalk, salt, &c., which render many of the wines unpalatable. The country lying between the Turkish fron- tier and the isthmus of Corinth produces com- paratively little wine of repute, the principal vineyards being near Lepanto, Chceronea, and Megara, and on the slopes of Mt. Poliguna. The plain surrounding Mt. Hymettus, in the neighborhood of Athens, yields a wine which has been favorably mentioned by European connoisseurs. The Morea or ancient Pelopon- nesus, notwithstanding many disturbing causes, continues to produce considerable quantities of wine, of which that made near Pergos, amounting to about 1,500,000 gallons annually, is esteemed the best. Nauplia, called also ISTapoli di Malvasia, situated on the gulf of Nauplia, is noted as the place whence the Malvasia or malmsey wines derived their name. The vineyards suffered greatly during the Greek war of independence, and are now of little value. The islands of the Greek archi- pelago, and those in the Mediterranean colo- nized by the Greeks, were in ancient times more famous for their wines than the mainland, and their superiority in that respect is fully maintained at the present day. Of the isl- ands of the archipelago, Santorin, the ancient Thera, is the most luxuriant. It is of volcanic origin, forming an imperfect ring, with the crater filled by the sea. The external slopes
