Costache Aristia

Costache Aristia

Costache Aristia (born Constantin Chiriacos Aristia; Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Κυριάκος Αριστίας; 1800, Bucharest–April 18, 1880, Bucharest) was a Wallachian, later Romanian actor and translator.

Born in Bucharest, his Greek father was killed during the Siege of Missolonghi, and would himself fight as a member of Filiki Eteria in 1821. Educated at Bucharest's Greek School, he drew notice as a student actor on the stage of Cișmeaua Roșie in 1817. Domnița Rallou Caragea sent him to Paris in order to study acting with François-Joseph Talma. Aristia completed his education at the Ionian Academy on Corfu. He then taught Greek and French at Saint Sava College, as well as acting and declamation at the Dramatic School of the Philharmonic Society, which he helped found in 1833. His first published work was an 1836 translation of Vittorio Alfieri's Saul; he also translated Homer and Plutarch. His few original works consist of verses (Prințul român, 1843) and moral tales (Săteanul creștin sau Partea morală din Foaia satului, 1853). A member of Frăția secret society, he actively participated in the Wallachian Revolution of 1848 and was thoroughly integrated into generation that carried out the revolution. The most valuable part of his activity is representative for the pioneering stage of theater's development in Romania.