Zozimus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zozimus
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael J. Moran |
| Also known as | Zozimus |
| Born | c. 1794 Dublin, Kingdom of Ireland |
| Died | 3 April 1846 Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Street entertainer, poet |
Michael J. Moran (born around 1794 – died April 3, 1846) was a famous Irish street performer. People knew him as Zozimus /ˈzɒzɪməs/. He lived in Dublin and was also called the "Blind Bard of the Liberties." He was sometimes known as the "Last of the Gleemen", which were traveling singers and storytellers.
Contents
About Zozimus's Life
Michael J. Moran was born in Dublin around 1794. He lived his whole life in the city's area known as the Liberties. When he was only two weeks old, an illness caused him to lose his eyesight.
Even though he was blind, Zozimus had an amazing memory for poems. He earned a living by reciting verses on the streets. Many of these poems he wrote himself. He performed them in a very lively and engaging way.
His Style and Performances
Zozimus often wore a long, dark coat with a cape. He also had an old hat, corduroy trousers, and sturdy shoes. He always carried a long blackthorn stick. This stick was tied to his wrist with a strap.
He performed all over Dublin, in many busy places. Some of these spots included Essex Bridge, Dame Street, and Grafton Street. He would start each performance with a special verse.
In his later years, Zozimus's voice became weak. This made it hard for him to earn money. He became ill and was bedridden. He passed away on April 3, 1846, at about 52 years old.
His Burial Place
Zozimus was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. He was worried about grave robbers, who were common at that time. He even asked his friend, "Stony Pockets," to help protect his grave.
His grave was in the "Poor Ground" section of the cemetery. For many years, it did not have a headstone. In the late 1960s, a music group called The Dublin City Ramblers put up a tombstone for him. His grave is near the monument of Daniel O'Connell, a famous Irish leader.
Why He Was Called Zozimus
Michael Moran got his famous nickname, "Zozimus," from a poem. This poem was about Saint Mary of Egypt. It told the story of how God sent a holy man named Zosimas of Palestine to her. Zosimas helped her before she died, and a lion dug her grave.
The poem was very popular in Dublin. People asked Zozimus to recite it often. Because he recited it so much, he soon became known by the name "Zozimus."
Zozimus's Poems and Songs
Some of Zozimus's rhymes are still known today as songs. These include:
- Saint Patrick was a Gentleman
- The Twangman
- Ye Men of Sweet Liberties Hall
- The Finding of Moses
He also had a poem called The Song of Zozimus.
Zozimus's Legacy
Zozimus is still remembered in Dublin and beyond. Several places and publications are named after him:
- A private art gallery in Dublin, Gallery Zozimus, is named in his honor.
- Zozimus Bar, a cocktail bar in Dublin, also carries his name.
- There was a magazine called Zozimus from 1870 to 1872.
- Another publication, Zoz, or the Irish Charivari, ran from 1876 to 1879.
- A collection of stories from New York, The Zozimus Papers, was published in 1889.
- A book of Irish comic poetry, Ireland's Other Poetry: Anonymous to Zozimus, was published in 2007. It included several of Zozimus's poems.
