On the occasion of the documentary about the life of Yannis Sakellarakis, "The Trace of Time"

Yannis Sakellaraki published his first book with Ikaros, entitled “The Poetics of Excavation”, in 2003. It was part of the “Portraits” series, in which we invited prominent figures who shape the intellectual life of our country to write their autobiographies and reveal their worlds and their visions.His subsequent books, ‘The Taste of a Prehistoric Olive Tree’ (2005) and ‘Uncovering the Past’ (published by Ikaros, 2006), also followed a similar thematic thread: through descriptions of his excavation work, the author recounted experiences and emotions inspired by archaeological finds: a bowl full of prehistoric olives, a sealstone and a ring at Anemospeilia, the sensation of being an archaeologist-gold-digger, the exercise of observation through the stories of Agatha Christie, the comparison of police work with historical research, the anonymity of prehistory. Obscure and famous figures, unknown aspects and details of the excavations that influenced his way of thinking and his life came to the surface.Thirty consecutive years of excavation experience, the dread of scientific solitude, the thrill of discovery, the immense responsibility. As the author delves into the various strata of time within the Earth, he also discovers himself. Our collaboration provided an opportunity to get to know a charismatic man who, beyond his undeniable contribution to archaeology, was an exceptional storyteller. His use of language, the precision of his descriptions and his sense of humour, combined with his piercing gaze and upright posture, captivated every listener.With this in mind, we are particularly delighted that Dionysia Kopana’s documentary, for which she wrote the screenplay and directed, “The Trace of Time”, dedicated to the life of the great Greek archaeologist, is due to be released in 2016.With a profound, penetrating insight, seeks to present his personality, whilst also adding this dimension: that of the great thinker and teacher, the “excavator of souls” who had a profound influence on all those fortunate enough to be in his company.Filming took four years and was completed thanks to the tireless support of Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki, whilst the total filming costs were covered by the Kostopoulos Foundation. The film’s crew followed in Sakellaraki’s footsteps to the Idaion Andron at Anemospilia, the Valley of the Dead in Zakros, the cemetery at Fourni in Archanes, and the summit of Psiloritis.We are eagerly awaiting the release of the documentary. You can find more information, as well as the trailer, here. You can find out more about Yannis Sakellaraki’s books at Ikaros, and a brief biography of him here: