Literature

Founded on late Byzantine tradition, from its very inception Cretan literature produced poetry of a high standard. In Chandax, outstanding poets included Stephanos Sachlikis and Leonardos Dellaportas, both of whom composed part of their oeuvre while in prison. Apokopos, by the Rethymnon poet Bergadis, is regarded as the finest work written in this period.

That being said, Cretan literature reached its peak in the late 16^th century, with Georgios Chortatsis and Vicenzos Cornaros as its leading exponents. Among works by the former, who wrote mainly for the theatre, outstanding examples are a tragedy entitled Erophile and a comedy entitled Katzourbos. Cretan literature is indebted to Cornaros for two of its major works: a religious drama entitled The Sacrifice of Abraham and Erotocritos, the metrical romance acknowledged as the crowning achievement of Cretan literature.