Erotokritos: Story, Meaning, History, and Musical Adaptation

Erotokritos is a historic love story written by Vitsentzos Kornaros in the early 17th century, using the Cretan dialect of the Greek language. The story centers on Erotokritos and Princess Aretusa, two young lovers from different social classes who face exile, hardship, and personal trials before achieving a happy ending. The plot is set in ancient Athens and unfolds through key moments of separation, bravery, and reunion, reflecting deep lessons about loyalty, endurance, and sacrifice.

Cretan musicians helped preserve Erotokritos by adapting parts of the story into songs, often using the traditional form of mantinades. These musical versions highlight the narrative’s emotional core while bringing the story to festivals and gatherings. Erotokritos continues to influence Greek culture through education, music, and literature, remaining a strong symbol of cultural pride. The work’s lasting popularity reflects the importance of love, perseverance, and identity in Greek history and tradition.

What does the name ‘Erotokritos’ Mean?

Erotokritos is a renowned Cretan romance poem and also a male first name, symbolizing the ideal of romantic and heroic love. Research indicates that the name ‘Erotokritos’ combines the Greek word ‘Eros’ (meaning love) and ‘kritos’ (meaning judged or chosen), thus interpreted as “judged by love” or “chosen by love”. The name conveys themes of unwavering love, chivalry, and fidelity, which are central to the poem it titles. Its main alternative or complementary concept is ‘Aretousa’, the heroine of the poem, representing virtue and loyalty.

Aretousa in Erotokritos is a fictional Cretan princess created by Vitsentzos Kornaros in the early 17th century. Aretousa secretly loves Erotokritos despite their social divide, defends this love even under threat of exile, and marries him. Aretousa symbolizes unwavering loyalty and romantic fidelity in Greek Renaissance literature. Aretousa loves Erotokritos despite a social divide and defends this love under threat of exile. Aretousa marries Erotokritos and influences Greek literature through loyal love and personal choice. Aretousa resembles Desdemona, Juliet, and Ariadne for defiance and romantic fidelity. She symbolizes the vernacular Greek literature flowering during the Cretan Renaissance under Venetian rule.

Poets, scholars, and Greek cultural historians use ‘Erotokritos’ to study medieval Greek literature, and people named Erotokritos are often associated with romantic ideals. It originated from the early 17th century, written by Vikentios Kornaros around 1600–1610 in Crete. It has sub-parts in the form of five rhymed parts (books) totaling over 10,000 fifteen-syllable verses, and the name itself is used today as a traditional male Greek name.

Erotokritos is often considered Cupid’s favorite within the tradition of Greek storytelling, a symbol of someone chosen to endure hardships for the sake of true love. The name defines the character’s role from the beginning, linking love not only to passion but to personal sacrifice and strength. The Greek language often embeds deep meaning into names, and Kornaros’ choice of Erotokritos underlines the cultural value placed on perseverance in matters of the heart. The story revolves around Erotokritos’ survival in exile, separation, and danger to prove that his love is worthy, fulfilling the expectations set by his name.

What is the plot of the story of Erotokritos?

The plot of the story Erotokritos tells a classic love story set in ancient Athens, a legendary city where honor, loyalty, and courage define personal destiny. The main characters are Erotokritos, a brave and talented young man, and Princess Aretusa, the proud and noble daughter of King Heracles.

The beginning of their love story is when Erotokritos, admiring Aretusa from afar, uses secret songs and tournaments to express his devotion. The setback occurs when King Heracles discovers the romance and banishes Erotokritos from Athens, forcing the lovers apart and testing their loyalty. The triumphant return happens when Erotokritos, disguised and unrecognized, saves Athens from invaders and wins back the king’s favor through acts of bravery.

The story concludes with a happy ending, as King Heracles finally approves the marriage of Erotokritos and Princess Aretusa, uniting them after years of hardship. The inspiring lessons of Erotokritos emphasize that true love must endure trials, remain faithful through separation, and prove itself through action. Vitsentzos Kornaros, the poet who wrote Erotokritos, was born in Sitia, Crete, where Sitia Airport today carries his name as a tribute to his lasting contribution to Greek literature and cultural pride.

What is the history of Erotokritos?

The history of Erotokritos began in the early 17th century, during the period when Crete was under Venetian rule. Vitsentzos Kornaros wrote the story between 1600 and 1610, using the Cretan dialect to reflect the local speech and identity of the island. Erotokritos spans 10,012 rhymed fifteen-syllable verses, forming a complete narrative centered on love, loyalty, and endurance. The story first spread through oral performances, becoming part of everyday cultural life long before its first printed edition appeared in Venice in 1713. Kornaros deliberately chose the Greek language over Italian influences, preserving a strong sense of heritage during a time of foreign occupation. The history of Erotokritos marks it as a key literary achievement in early modern Greek literature, and its enduring legacy continues to shape Greek cultural pride today.

How is the story of Erotokritos musically adapted?

The story of Erotokritos has been musically adapted by many Greek artists, with one of the most famous adaptations written and performed by Nikos Xylouris, a major figure in Cretan music. Nikos Xylouris chose specific passages from Vitsentzos Kornaros’ text and set them to music using traditional Cretan rhythms and instruments like the lyra and laouto. The music created from the story of Erotokritos preserves the original poetic structure, keeping the fifteen-syllable verse while adapting it to melodies that reflect Cretan folk traditions. Performances often follow the style of the mantinada, a traditional form of musical dialogue in Crete where verses are sung in response. Other versions of the musical adaptation include works by artists such as Psarantonis and Loudovikos ton Anogeion, who introduced modern variations while still respecting the core themes of love, loyalty, and endurance. Musical adaptations of Erotokritos remain a vital part of Cretan identity, frequently performed at festivals, family gatherings, and cultural celebrations across Greece.

What are the lyrics of the song ‘Erotokritos’ in English?

The lyrics of the song of Erotokritos are composed using the original fifteen-syllable verse structure, a hallmark of traditional Cretan poetry. The language used in the song comes directly from the Cretan dialect of the Greek language, preserving the cultural identity of the period when Vitsentzos Kornaros first wrote the story. Musicians who adapt Erotokritos into song carefully maintain the rhythmic pattern, ensuring that the natural musicality of the verses remains intact.

Find below the lyrics of the song Erotokritos in English:

Have you heard of the sad news Aretousa?
Your father has exiled me
He has given me only four more days to stay,
And after that I must go far away abroad alone
And how am I going to be separated from you,
And how am I going to live without you into such exile?
My end is coming, know it my lady
that they will bury me in exile, my remains will be there
I understand that your father is going to get you married soon,
seeking a son of a king and nobleman worthy of you
And you cannot resist the wishes of your family,
They defeat your mind and alter your desire.

Only one favor I am asking you, my heart’s ruler,
And after that I would happily be done with my life;
The moment you will get engaged sigh deeply
And when you are a bride, when you change as a married woman
Let your tear drop and say “Poor Erotokritos
What I promised you I forgot, what you wanted exists no more

Once every month in your room
Think what I have suffered for you, feel sorry for me in your heart
And take this painting from the drawer
and the songs I sang to you, that you enjoy so much
And read them, look at them and think of me
that I was exiled for you far away
And when they tell you I am dead, feel sorry for me and cry
And the songs I created, burn them in fire

No matter where I end up and how long I live,
I promise you neither to see another woman nor to gaze at.
And let ill-fated me vow that I never saw you,
That you were like a lit candle extinguished in my hands

Better to be with you in death than with another one in life,
It is for you that my body was born into this world!

What is the main difference between the story of Erotokritos and its song adaptation?

The main difference between the story of Erotokritos and its song adaptation lies in the depth and detail of the narrative. The original story written by Vitsentzos Kornaros is a full-length poem composed of 10,012 verses, covering the complete development of the love story between Erotokritos and Princess Aretusa.

The song adaptation focuses only on selected emotional moments, summarizing major events into short, lyrical expressions. Cretan musicians adapt parts of the poem into musical pieces that resemble mantinades, traditional fifteen-syllable rhyming couplets often sung during celebrations. These musical adaptations highlight feelings of loyalty, longing, and sacrifice without recounting the full complexity of the plot. The song versions offer a condensed experience of Erotokritos, preserving its emotional weight while making it more accessible for performances and cultural gatherings.

How does the story of Erotikos influence Greek culture today?

The story of Erotokritos influences Greek culture today by serving as a lasting symbol of resilience, loyalty, and cultural pride. Schools across Greece introduce Erotokritos to students as a fundamental piece of national literature, ensuring that new generations understand its lessons about love, perseverance, and honor. Cretan musicians continue to perform adaptations of Erotokritos during festivals and cultural events, keeping the story alive through music and oral tradition. Writers, playwrights, and filmmakers draw inspiration from its themes, using the narrative to explore ideas of personal sacrifice and unwavering devotion. Public references to Erotokritos often appear during national celebrations, highlighting its role in shaping Greek identity. The story’s enduring presence in education, music, and art shows that Erotokritos remains more than a historical work and continues to reflect the values and spirit many Greeks hold close today.

What is the Lyric Style of the Erotokritos?

The Erotokritos is composed of over 10,000 rhyming couplets called Mantinades. These iambic couplets of 15 syllables per line (“dekapentasyllabic” verses) have a musical cadence, with the Iambic structure of a short and light syllable followed by a longer stressed syllable.

Mantinades are, in themselves, a form of popular artistic expression in Crete even today – skillful practitioners can compose them with spontaneity and wit to suit any occasion.

Mantinades in general take very naturally to music, the Cretan Lyra (played with a bow) and the Laouto (a stringed instrument similar to a lute) in particular. The Erotokritos is always set to music. As the best known example of the use of the mantinada, it has become a definitive part of the Cretan soul. The great Nikos Xylouris – “Psaronikos” – often referred to as “the voice of Crete” – has a memorable version, and many other Cretan musicians use the poem in their music.

What is Inspiration of the Erotokritos Poem?

The Erotokritos is much more than a love story with a happy ending. The theme of true friendship is also important in the Erotokritos: his friend fought the king’s soldiers by his side when they found out about his love for Aretousa. In returning to fight for Athens, even though he had been banished, Erotokritos showed patriotism. In saving the life of the king, he showed valour. Aretousa is also a true heroine, not just the love interest of Erotokritos. She showed an uncompromising virtue and pride in preferring imprisonment to a forced marriage. She was true to her great love for Erotokritos, but moreover, importantly, she was also true to herself.

The Erotokritos with its values so important to Greeks – bravery, friendship, patriotism – has therefore been a source of inspiration to the poets who have shaped the culture of Greece: Dionysios Solomos (writer of the Hymn to Liberty, which supplies the lyrics to the National Anthem), Kostis Palamas (who wrote the words to the Olympic Hymn), and Giorgos Seferis (a key figure of the cultural scene of 20th century Greece and a Nobel laureate poet).

Published on June 19, 2025