THE DAY OF THE POET

This activity, which has been taking place on the first weekend of each August for the last 5 years, was initiated by the personal endeavours of the famous Turkish journalist Haluk Sahin. It has already become a traditional festival.

Each year a different poet is invited for this gathering. In 2007, on August 3-4, the well-known Turkish poet Refik Durbas will lead those who love poetry. Not only will people get a chance to listen to Refik Durbas’s poetry read by himself but they will also have the chance to hear Homer’s world famous epic Iliad, the story of which passes in Troy, read in various languages.

It is not a coincidence that Bozcaada is chosen for this activity. It is situated right opposite the ancient Troy, on Hisarlik Hill. Bozcaada was a shelter for the Acheans from the Trojans all through the Trojan war. Even when the famous Trojan horse trick was being carried out the Achaean fleet waited for the sign from the opposite bank to arrive in a harbour behind on the rear part of the island.

The Iliad readings start with dawn in Troy. The crowd gets together in harmony with the early morning calm waiting for the reading to continue from where it stopped the year before. The reading of the epic was completed in 2006.  The reading will start again from the beginning in 2007.