Koraïs, Adamántios

Koraïs, Adamántios

(born April 27, 1748, Smyrna, Anatolia—died April 6, 1833, Paris, France) Greek scholar. He studied medicine in France but moved to Paris to pursue a literary career. He hoped to awaken the national aspirations of his countrymen and to increase awareness of the Greek heritage. His advocacy of a revived classicism had a great influence on Greek language and culture. His anthologies include the Library of Greek Literature, 17 vol. (1805–26), and the Parerga, 9 vol. (1809–27). Largely through his Atakta (composed 1828–35), the first Modern Greek dictionary, he created a new Greek literary language by combining elements of vernacular (Demotic) with Classical Greek.