Evanthia Kairi – Letter from Adamantios Korais
Evanthia Kairi was born in 1799 in Andros, being the youngest of eight siblings of the philosopher Theophilos Kairis. In 1812, at the age of 13, she moved to Kydonies (Ayvalik) in Asia Minor to join her brother Theophilos, who at that time worked at the famous School of Kydonies as a Scholarch (Headmaster). With her brother as an unwearied teacher and intellectual guide, she engaged in the systematic study of the ancient Greek language, succeeding within a few months in interpreting ancient texts with incredible ease. In addition, she attended courses on advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry while, simultaneously, she taught beginner students at the School. Furthermore, within just two years, she became fluent in French and Italian, and she effectively used that knowledge in remarkable translations, —something unprecedented for a woman of that time.
At the age of 15, on January 28th, 1815, spurred by the spontaneity and audacity of her age, she sent a letter to Adamantios Korais, one of the most prominent scholars of Greek culture of her time, who maintained close friendly relations with her brother Theophilos, and after she expressed her respect and admiration, she asked him to send her books to translate and use for the education of the young Greeks for the benefit of the nation. Impressed by her intellectual maturity and touched by her craving for the education of Greek women, Korais sent her this letter —one of the most beautiful letters of his— with which he advised her on “the art of life”. He did send her eventually a large number of books in ancient Greek, French, Italian, and Latin, many of which Evanthia successfully translated into Greek.
