Apollon Maykov
A Russian poet who wove classical antiquity and Slavic folklore into lyrical verses later set to music by great composers.
1821–1897 (age 76)·Russian poet and translator·Birthday: June 4
Biography
Apollon Maykov moved in the glittering literary world of 19th-century St. Petersburg, yet his poetry often sought quieter, more timeless realms. The son of an academic painter, he initially trained as an artist before words captured his focus. His early work, influenced by a grand tour of Europe, revealed a deep passion for the ancient world, its myths and landscapes rendered in polished, evocative verse. As he matured, his gaze turned inward to Russian soil—its villages, its history, its natural rhythms. He became a master of lyrical description, painting scenes of rural life and national epics with a classical sense of form. Maykov was also a dedicated translator, spending years bringing the medieval Slavic epic 'The Tale of Igor's Campaign' into modern Russian, and interpreting works from across Europe. His melodic, image-rich style attracted composers; his words found a second life in art songs by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, cementing his place in Russia's cultural fabric.
#1 When Apollon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1821
Apollon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1821Born
1826Started school
1834Became a teenager
1837Could drive
1839Could vote
1842Turned 21
1851Turned 30
1861Turned 40
President: Abraham Lincoln
1871Turned 50
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1881Turned 60
President: Chester A. Arthur
1891Turned 70
President: Benjamin Harrison
1897Died at 76
President: William McKinley
Key Achievements
- Translated the medieval Russian epic 'The Tale of Igor's Campaign' into modern Russian, a work published in 1870.
- Published numerous volumes of lyric poetry that drew upon classical antiquity and Russian rural life.
- Had several of his poems set to music by major Russian composers including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Did You Know?
He originally studied to be a painter at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts before turning to poetry.
His brother, Valerian Maykov, was a notable literary critic and philosopher.
He worked as a librarian at the Rumyantsev Museum in St. Petersburg for many years.
He was a conservative in later life and opposed the radical literary movements of his time.
“The scent of the linden tree is the true memory of my homeland.”
