Epifanio Mejía Quijano (1838–1913) was a
Colombian poet and politician
who in his lifetime published over 134 poems.
He was born in
Yarumal
Yarumal is a municipality in the Antioquia Department, Colombia.
The municipality (three parishes and 20 villages) has an area of , 35,315 inhabitants, and its average elevation is above sea level.
It has a minor basilica, Our Lady of Mercy, ...
,
Antioquia Antioquia is the Spanish form of Antioch.
Antioquia may also refer to:
* Antioquia Department, Colombia
* Antioquia State, Colombia (defunct)
* Antioquia District, Peru
* Antioquia Railway
The Antioquia Railway ( es, Ferrocarril de Antioquia) i ...
, in 1838, in an
hacienda
An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...
known as ''El Caunce'',
and died in an asylum in
Medellín
Medellín ( or ), officially the Municipality of Medellín ( es, Municipio de Medellín), is the second-largest city in Colombia, after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia. It is located in the Aburrá Valley, a central re ...
in 1913.
He is known as one of the most famous poets from Antioquia, and one of his poems was chosen as the official Anthem of Antioquia.
Biography
He was the son of Ramon Mejia Vallejo and Maria Luisa Quijano. After the death of this father, he moved to Medellin in search of better economic opportunities.
He soon started to write poetry.
Alongside the poet
Gregorio Gutiérrez González
Gregorio Gutiérrez González (1826–1872) was a Colombian poet. He was a son of José Ignacio Guriérrez y Arango and Inés González y Villegas. He was born on 9 May 1826 in La Ceja del Tambo. He learned at schools in Antioquia and Medellí ...
and others of his stature, Epifanio Mejía was one of the major poets from Antioquia during the 19th century.
One of his poems, "The song of Antioquia," was chosen as the official anthem of Antioquia.
Between 1868 and 1869, he collaborated on the literary magazine ''El Oasis'' (The Oasis), directed by Isidoro Isaza.
He was considered insane and admitted to the mental hospital in Medillín at the age of 31.
He died in 1913.
See also
*
Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy, Yarumal
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mejia, Epifanio
1838 births
1913 deaths
poets
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...