Greek culture: names to know, from A1 to C2
The Greeks everyone grows up with: writers, thinkers, artists and heroes, placed at the level where you can first read about them in Greek. Who they were, what they did, why they still matter, and a short passage about each one in Greek at your level, with the words to keep.
🏛️ Ancient Greece for school, connected to the Greek of today →
Antiquity · FabulistAesopΑίσωποςc. 620 BC – c. 564 BCAesop (Aisopos), the legendary Greek storyteller behind the fables: the fox and the grapes, the hare and the tortoise, and the morals every Greek child still learns.
Modern Greece · PoetDionysios SolomosΔιονύσιος Σολωμός1798 – 1857Dionysios Solomos, Greece's national poet from Zakynthos, wrote the Hymn to Liberty that became the national anthem, plus The Cretan and The Free Besieged.
Modern Greece · PoetOdysseas ElytisΟδυσσέας Ελύτης1911 – 1996Odysseas Elytis, Nobel Prize 1979, the poet of the Aegean light: To Axion Esti, set to music by Theodorakis, and the love poem The Monogram.
Modern Greece · Poet and lyricistNikos GatsosΝίκος Γκάτσος1911 – 1992Nikos Gatsos wrote one poem, Amorgos, and then hundreds of Greek song lyrics for Hadjidakis, Theodorakis and Xarchakos, including Chartino to fengaraki.
Modern Greece · Novelist (children's and young-adult literature)Alki ZeiΆλκη Ζέη1923 – 2020Alki Zei, the Greek children's author of Wildcat under Glass (To kaplani tis vitrinas) and Petros' War, novels about growing up in Greece's hardest years.
Antiquity · King of SpartaLeonidas of SpartaΛεωνίδαςc. 540 BC – 480 BCLeonidas, king of Sparta, who held the pass of Thermopylae in 480 BC with 300 Spartans against the Persian army of Xerxes and answered «Molon labe»: come and take them.
Modern Greece · Marathon runnerSpyridon LouisΣπύρος Λούης1873 – 1940Spyridon Louis (Spyros Louis), the water-carrier from Marousi who won the first modern Olympic marathon in Athens in 1896 and became a Greek national hero.
Modern Greece · PainterNikiforos LytrasΝικηφόρος Λύτρας1832 – 1904Nikiforos Lytras, painter of The Carols and The Kiss: father of the Munich School in Greece and teacher at the Athens School of Fine Arts for 38 years.
Modern Greece · Folk painterTheophilos HatzimihailΘεόφιλος Χατζημιχαήλc. 1870 – 1934Theophilos Hatzimihail (Theofilos), self-taught folk painter of Lesbos and Pelion who painted 1821 heroes, Alexander the Great and village life on café walls.
Modern Greece · PainterGeorgios JakobidesΓεώργιος Ιακωβίδης1853 – 1932Georgios Jakobides (Iakovidis), the Munich School painter of children and grandparents: Children's Concert, Cold Shower, and first director of the National Gallery of Greece.
Antiquity · King and conquerorAlexander the GreatΜέγας Αλέξανδρος356 BC – 323 BCAlexander the Great (Megas Alexandros), king of Macedon, who conquered the Persian Empire from Greece to India by 32 and spread Greek across the East.
Modern Greece · Naval commander of 1821Laskarina BouboulinaΛασκαρίνα Μπουμπουλίνα1771 – 1825Laskarina Bouboulina, the ship-owner of Spetses who built the warship Agamemnon and led her own fleet in the Greek War of Independence of 1821.
Modern Greece · Actress, singer, politicianMelina MercouriΜελίνα Μερκούρη1920 – 1994Melina Mercouri (Merkouri): actress of Stella and Never on Sunday, voice of Ta paidia tou Peiraia, enemy of the junta, Minister of Culture who wanted the Marbles back.
Modern Greece · ComposerMikis TheodorakisΜίκης Θεοδωράκης1925 – 2021Mikis Theodorakis, Greece's best-known composer: the Zorba the Greek sirtaki, Axion Esti on Elytis, Epitaphios on Ritsos, and songs Greeks sing everywhere.
Modern Greece · ActressAliki VougiouklakiΑλίκη Βουγιουκλάκη1934 – 1996Aliki Vougiouklaki (Vouyouklaki), Greece's national star: the blonde heroine of some forty films, from The Rod Came from Paradise to Lieutenant Natassa.
Modern Greece · Children's authorEugene TrivizasΕυγένιος Τριβιζάς1946Eugene Trivizas (Evgenios Trivizas), Greece's best-loved children's author: The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, Froutopia and over 100 playful books.
Modern Greece · SingerNana MouskouriΝάνα Μούσχουρη1934Nana Mouskouri, the Greek singer with the black glasses who recorded 200+ albums in a dozen languages: The Children of Piraeus, White Roses from Athens, Only Love.
Modern Greece · General of 1821Georgios KaraiskakisΓεώργιος Καραϊσκάκης1782 – 1827Georgios Karaiskakis, the fiery klepht and general of 1821: victory at Arachova, death at Faliro in 1827, and the Piraeus stadium that bears his name.
Modern Greece · Souliot captain of 1821Markos BotsarisΜάρκος Μπότσαρηςc. 1788 – 1823Markos Botsaris (Marco Bozzaris), the Souliot captain of 1821 who died leading a night attack at Karpenisi in 1823 and lies in Missolonghi.
Modern Greece · Hero of 1821Athanasios DiakosΑθανάσιος Διάκοςc. 1788 – 1821Athanasios Diakos, the young monk turned klepht who held the bridge of Alamana in April 1821 and died in Lamia, a martyr-hero of the Greek Revolution.
Modern Greece · Admiral, fireship captainKonstantinos KanarisΚωνσταντίνος Κανάρηςc. 1790 – 1877Konstantinos Kanaris, the sailor from Psara whose fireship burned the Ottoman flagship at Chios in 1822, later an admiral and prime minister of Greece.
Modern Greece · Heroine of 1821Manto MavrogenousΜαντώ Μαυρογένους1796 – 1848Manto Mavrogenous, the rich young woman of Mykonos who spent her whole fortune on ships and fighters for the Greek Revolution of 1821 and died poor.
Modern Greece · Laïko singerStelios KazantzidisΣτέλιος Καζαντζίδης1931 – 2001Stelios Kazantzidis, the great voice of Greek laïko song: songs of exile, work and hard luck that Greeks at home and abroad still sing with tears.Modern Greece · Singer, bouzouki playerGrigoris BithikotsisΓρηγόρης Μπιθικώτσης1922 – 2005Grigoris Bithikotsis, the voice of Theodorakis: the singer of Epitaphios, Axion Esti and Ena to Chelidoni, the people's voice of 1960s Greek song.
Modern Greece · SingerDemis RoussosΝτέμης Ρούσσος1946 – 2015Demis Roussos, the Greek singer from Alexandria with the high voice and the kaftans: Rain and Tears with Aphrodite's Child, Forever and Ever, Goodbye My Love.
Modern Greece · Bouzouki player, composerGiorgos ZambetasΓιώργος Ζαμπέτας1925 – 1992Giorgos Zambetas, the laughing bouzouki virtuoso of 1960s Athens: composer of Ta deilina and Siko chorepse syrtaki, a familiar face in Greek films.
Modern Greece · ActressIrene PapasΕιρήνη Παππά1926 – 2022Irene Papas (Ειρήνη Παππά), the face of Greek tragedy on film: Electra, The Trojan Women, Iphigenia, Antigone, plus Zorba the Greek and The Guns of Navarone.Modern Greece · Comic actorVasilis LogothetidisΒασίλης Λογοθετίδης1898 – 1960Vasilis Logothetidis, the great comic actor of Greek stage and screen: A Pebble in the Lake, The Jealous Tomcat and the timid little man of the 1950s.Modern Greece · Comic actorDinos IliopoulosΝτίνος Ηλιόπουλος1913 – 2001Dinos Iliopoulos, the gentle comic actor of the golden age of Greek cinema, star of O Grousouzis and Ziteitai pseftis, still loved on Greek TV.Modern Greece · ActressElli LambetiΈλλη Λαμπέτη1926 – 1983Elli Lambeti, the great Greek actress of stage and screen, star of Kakogiannis's Windfall in Athens, A Girl in Black and A Matter of Dignity.Modern Greece · ActorDimitris HornΔημήτρης Χορν1921 – 1998Dimitris Horn, the elegant Greek actor of stage and screen: The Counterfeit Coin, The Girl in Black and a famous partnership with Elli Lambeti.
Modern Greece · Painter of the seaKonstantinos VolanakisΚωνσταντίνος Βολανάκης1837 – 1907Konstantinos Volanakis, the Cretan painter of the Munich School who became the father of Greek seascape painting: ships, harbours and naval battles.Modern Greece · Actress and singerRena VlachopoulouΡένα Βλαχοπούλου1923 – 2004Rena Vlachopoulou, the Corfiot jazz singer who became the queen of Greek film comedy: The Gambler, Viva Rena and Rena Is Offside.Modern Greece · ActressJenny KareziΤζένη Καρέζη1932 – 1992Jenny Karezi, star of 1960s Greek cinema: Despoinis Diefthyntis, Mia treli treli oikogeneia, and the anti-junta stage show To megalo mas tsirko (1973).
Modern Greece · Rebetiko singer · musicianAgathonas IakovidisΑγάθωνας Ιακωβίδης1955 – 2020Agathonas Iakovidis, the Thessaloniki rebetiko singer and record collector: hear his voice and name the bouzouki, guitar and baglamas in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerAnastasia MoutsatsouΑναστασία Μουτσάτσου1961Anastasia Moutsatsou, Greek singer from Laconia: explore her records since 1992 and name the instruments you hear in Greek with τραγουδά με…
Modern Greece · Byzantine historianAngeliki LaiouΑγγελική Λαΐου1941 – 2008Angeliki Laiou, the Athens-born Harvard historian of Byzantium, studied its families, villages and trade. Learn Greek words for home, family and trade.
Antiquity · Didactic poetAratusΆρατος ο Σολεύςc. 315/310 BC – c. 240 BCAratus of Soli put the stars and weather signs into Greek verse in his Phaenomena; use his Bears and Dragon to practise πάνω, κάτω and δίπλα.
Modern Greece · Actor · filmmakerAriane LabedΑριάν Λαμπέντ1984Ariane Labed, born in Athens, won at Venice for the Greek film Attenberg: meet her work and describe a film scene with simple Greek verbs.
Antiquity · Homeric scholar and editorAristarchus of SamothraceΑρίσταρχος ο Σαμόθραξc. 216 BC – c. 144 BCAristarchus of Samothrace edited Homer in Alexandria and marked doubtful lines with signs: learn λέξη, στίχος and παραλλαγή in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriter · translatorDanai StratigopoulouΔανάη Στρατηγοπούλου1913 – 2009Danai Stratigopoulou, the singer of Attik's songs and a Greek translator of Neruda: learn to tell a song's interpretation from a poem's translation.
Modern Greece · Printmaker · visual artistDimitra SiaterliΔήμητρα Σιατερλή1952Dimitra Siaterli, printmaker from Argos and co-founder of the Athens Printmaking Centre: learn Greek words for plate, print and paper through her engravings.
Modern Greece · Film directorDimitris StavrakasΔημήτρης Σταύρακας1938Dimitris Stavrakas, Athenian director of Betty and The Canary Yellow Bicycle: follow a school film scene and describe it in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerEleni DimouΕλένη ΔήμουEleni Dimou, the Greek singer of Προσωπικά and Κατά βάθος… αλεπού, grew up singing: meet her and practise τραγουδώ (I sing) and ηχογραφώ (I record).
Modern Greece · SingerEleni TsaligopoulouΕλένη Τσαλιγοπούλου1963Eleni Tsaligopoulou, the singer from Naousa, links έντεχνο, laika and traditional song: listen to her recordings and name one simple difference in Greek.
Antiquity · Vase painter and potterExekiasΕξηκίαςExekias, the Athenian black-figure potter and painter, signed a famous vase of Achilles and Ajax at play: use it to practise left, right and numbers.
Modern Greece · Cinematographer · film directorPhedon PapamichaelΦαίδων Παπαμιχαήλ1962Phedon Papamichael, the Athens-born cinematographer of Sideways and Nebraska: learn to describe light and a film image in simple Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · lyra playerGeorgia DagakiΓεωργία ΝταγάκηGeorgia Dagaki sings and plays the Cretan lyra, joining island tradition and rock; learn χορδή and δοξάρι and hear long and short sounds.
Modern Greece · NovelistIsmini KapandaiΙσμήνη Καπάνταη1939Ismini Kapandai, Athenian novelist born in 1939, sets stories in Byzantine Thessaloniki, Ottoman Epirus and 1830s Athens. Learn to ask where and when in Greek.
Antiquity · Lyric poetIbycusΊβυκοςIbycus of Rhegium sang of spring gardens and restless love on Samos: read his fragments and practise ανθίζει and μεγαλώνει in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Film and stage directorJules DassinΖυλ Ντασέν1911 – 2008Jules Dassin, the American director of Rififi, made Never on Sunday in Piraeus with Melina Mercouri and later directed plays at Greece’s National Theatre.
Modern Greece · Pop singerKlavdiaΚλαυδίαc. 2002Klavdia, a Greek pop singer with Pontic roots, sang the Greek ballad Asteromata at Eurovision 2025: listen and describe her voice in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · Writer and theatre directorLena KitsopoulouΛένα Κιτσοπούλου1971Lena Kitsopoulou, Athenian actress, writer and director, wrote the stories Νυχτερίδες and the monologue Μ.Α.Ι.Ρ.Ο.Υ.Λ.Α. Introduce yourself in Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · journalistLili ZografouΛιλή Ζωγράφου1922 – 1998Lili Zografou, Cretan novelist and journalist, wrote Η αγάπη άργησε μια μέρα: use its title to practise αργώ and περιμένω in Greek.
Modern Greece · Historian · bibliographerLoukia DrouliaΛουκία Δρούλια1931 – 2019Loukia Droulia (1931–2019), historian of the Greek book and press, co-edited the Encyclopaedia of the Greek Press. Read an old Greek newspaper heading.
Modern Greece · Film and stage actressMary ChronopoulouΜαίρη Χρονοπούλου1933 – 2023Mary Chronopoulou, Athenian star of The Red Lanterns and 1960s Finos Film musicals: learn Greek film words such as η ταινία (film) and κόκκινος (red).
Modern Greece · Actor and dancerMaria NafpliotouΜαρία ΝαυπλιώτουMaria Nafpliotou danced on stage from 15, then became a leading Greek theatre actor and lit the 2008 Olympic flame. Learn stage words in Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · actorMarianna PolychronidiΜαριάννα ΠολυχρονίδηMarianna Polychronidi is a Greek actor and singer of Mikroutsikos songs: learn simple Greek words for rehearsals, the stage and a daily timetable.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterMonikaΜόνικα Χριστοδούλου1985Monika, the Athens singer-songwriter of Over the Hill and Στάλα: tell her English songs from her Greek ones and describe a song’s mood in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer and composerNena VenetsanouΝένα Βενετσάνου1955Nena Venetsanou, Athens-born singer and composer, sets Greek and European poetry to music, from Hadjidakis's stage works to Sappho in Elytis's Greek.
Modern Greece · Actor · directorOlia LazaridouΌλια ΛαζαρίδουOlia Lazaridou is a Greek stage and screen actor and director: meet her film and Beckett roles and describe a stage action in simple Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Film directorPantelis VoulgarisΠαντελής Βούλγαρης1940Pantelis Voulgaris directed Stone Years and Little England: discover his Greek films and describe an island place step by step in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · ChoreographerPatricia ApergiΠατρίσια ΑπέργηPatricia Apergi, the Athenian choreographer of the Aerites company, turns streets and city squares into dance; learn Greek words for moving in and out.
Modern Greece · Theatre director · actressRoula PaterakiΡούλα ΠατεράκηRoula Pateraki, Greek stage director and actress, staged Sophocles at Epidaurus and Thucydides: read a Greek line aloud, slower and louder.
Modern Greece · Singer · performerSakis RouvasΣάκης Ρουβάς1972Sakis Rouvas connects Greek pop, television and live performance: discover his recordings and practise everyday greetings through the title Kalimera.
Modern Greece · Singer · revue actressSofia VemboΣοφία Βέμπο1910 – 1978Sofia Vembo, Greece’s “Singer of Victory” in 1940: follow her revue and wartime songs, then find simple Greek words in her song titles.
Modern Greece · Film and stage actressThemis BazakaΘέμις Μπαζάκα1957Themis Bazaka, star of the Greek films Rebetiko and Stone Years, won Best Actress at Thessaloniki in 1985: describe a film scene with simple Greek words.
Antiquity · Elegiac poetTheognis of MegaraΘέογνις ο Μεγαρεύς6th c. BCTheognis of Megara gave advice in verse to young Cyrnus about friends and trust. Read his couplets and practise ο φίλος and μαθαίνω in Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet · playwright · essayistZoe KarelliΖωή Καρέλλη1901 – 1998Zoe Karelli (1901–1998), Thessaloniki poet of time and solitude: discover her life and work, then name market colours in Greek with her poem Street Market.
Modern Greece · PoetKonstantinos KavafisΚωνσταντίνος Καβάφης1863 – 1933Konstantinos Kavafis (C. P. Cavafy), the poet of Alexandria: Ithaca, Waiting for the Barbarians, The City, and 154 poems on history, desire and time.
Modern Greece · PoetYannis RitsosΓιάννης Ρίτσος1909 – 1990Yannis Ritsos, poet of Epitaphios and Romiosini, sung by Theodorakis, who wrote more than a hundred collections through exile, prison and the junta.
Modern Greece · Novelist (children's literature)Penelope DeltaΠηνελόπη Δέλτα1874 – 1941Penelope Delta, Greece's first great children's author: Trelantonis, O Mangas, A Tale without a Name and The Secrets of the Swamp, still read in every Greek school.
Antiquity · Epic poetHomerΌμηροςc. 8th century BCHomer (Omiros), the poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey: Achilles, Troy, Odysseus and Penelope, the first and most-read works of Greek literature.
Modern Greece · NovelistNikos KazantzakisΝίκος Καζαντζάκης1883 – 1957Nikos Kazantzakis, the Cretan author of Zorba the Greek, Christ Recrucified, The Last Temptation and Report to Greco, Greece's most translated novelist.
Antiquity · Cynic philosopherDiogenes the CynicΔιογένης ο Κυνικόςc. 412 BC – 323 BCDiogenes the Cynic (Diogenes of Sinope): the philosopher who lived in a jar, sought an honest man with a lamp and told Alexander to step out of his sun.
Antiquity · Philosopher and mathematicianThales of MiletusΘαλής ο Μιλήσιοςc. 624 BC – c. 546 BCThales of Miletus, the first Greek philosopher and mathematician: water as the origin of all things, the eclipse of 585 BC, the pyramids and the theorem that bears his name.
Antiquity · Philosopher and mathematicianPythagorasΠυθαγόραςc. 570 BC – c. 495 BCPythagoras of Samos, the philosopher of numbers: the theorem every pupil learns, musical ratios, the soul reborn, and the community he founded at Croton around 530 BC.
Renaissance · PainterEl GrecoΔομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος1541 – 1614El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), the Cretan painter of Toledo: The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, View of Toledo, elongated saints and storm-lit skies.
Modern Greece · PainterNikolaos GyzisΝικόλαος Γύζης1842 – 1901Nikolaos Gyzis (Gysis), master of the Munich School: The Secret School, The Betrothal of the Children and the diploma of the first modern Olympic Games of 1896.
Modern Greece · SopranoMaria CallasΜαρία Κάλλας1923 – 1977Maria Callas (Maria Kalogeropoulou), the Greek soprano trained in Athens who conquered La Scala with Norma, Tosca, La Traviata and Medea.
Modern Greece · ComposerManos HadjidakisΜάνος Χατζιδάκις1925 – 1994Manos Hadjidakis (Hatzidakis), the Greek composer of Never on Sunday, The Children of Piraeus (Oscar 1961), Ο Μεγάλος Ερωτικός and hundreds of songs with Nikos Gatsos.Modern Greece · ActorThanasis VeggosΘανάσης Βέγγος1927 – 2011Thanasis Veggos (Vengos), Greece's best-loved comic actor: the man who runs, the Thou-Vou spy spoofs, What Did You Do in the War Thanasis and Ulysses' Gaze.
Modern Greece · PoetGeorgios DrosinisΓεώργιος Δροσίνης1859 – 1951Georgios Drosinis (Drossinis), poet of the Generation of 1880: Spider Webs, Amaryllis, The Flowering Almond Tree, and the first demotic verse Greek children read.
Modern Greece · PoetNikiforos VrettakosΝικηφόρος Βρεττάκος1912 – 1991Nikiforos Vrettakos, the poet of Taygetos and of light: simple, warm poems about his mother, peace and love, from O Taygetos kai i siopi to Leitourgia kato apo tin Akropoli.
Modern Greece · Singer, lyra playerNikos XylourisΝίκος Ξυλούρης1936 – 1980Nikos Xylouris (Psaronikos), the Cretan lyra player and singer from Anogeia: Pote tha kanei xasteria, Anyfantou, the voice of the 1973 Polytechnic uprising.
Modern Greece · PhysicianGeorgios PapanikolaouΓεώργιος Παπανικολάου1883 – 1962Georgios Papanikolaou (George Papanicolaou), the Greek doctor who invented the Pap test for cervical cancer and saved millions of women's lives.
Modern Greece · Priest and fighter of 1821PapaflessasΠαπαφλέσσαςc. 1788 – 1825Papaflessas (Grigorios Dikaios), the fiery priest of the Filiki Etaireia who pushed the Peloponnese to revolt in 1821 and fell fighting Ibrahim at Maniaki.
Modern Greece · Satirical poetGeorgios SourisΓεώργιος Σουρής1853 – 1919Georgios Souris, the satirical poet who wrote almost alone the verse weekly O Romios (1883–1918), mocking Greek politicians in rhyme for 35 years.
Modern Greece · SculptorYannoulis ChalepasΓιαννούλης Χαλεπάς1851 – 1938Yannoulis Chalepas (Halepas), the marble sculptor from Tinos who carved the Sleeping Maiden of Athens' First Cemetery, lost his mind and returned to art at 67.
Modern Greece · PainterAlekos FassianosΑλέκος Φασιανός1935 – 2022Alekos Fassianos, the Greek painter of blue and red figures: cyclists, lovers, birds and smokers in profile, between Athens and Paris, much loved across Greece.
Modern Greece · ComposerSpyridon SamarasΣπυρίδων Σαμαράς1861 – 1917Spyridon Samaras, the Corfiot opera composer who wrote the Olympic Hymn for the first modern Games of 1896, sung at every Olympics to words by Palamas.Modern Greece · Rebetiko singerSotiria BellouΣωτηρία Μπέλλου1921 – 1997Sotiria Bellou, the deep, unmistakable voice of rebetiko, discovered by Vassilis Tsitsanis and remembered for the first recording of Cloudy Sunday.Modern Greece · Rebetiko singerMarika NinouΜαρίκα Νίνου1922 – 1957Marika Ninou, the rebetiko singer who stood beside Vassilis Tsitsanis at Jimmy the Fat's in Athens and gave her voice to Stalia Stalia; dead at under forty.Modern Greece · Bouzouki virtuoso, composerManolis ChiotisΜανώλης Χιώτης1921 – 1970Manolis Chiotis, the bouzouki virtuoso who added a fourth pair of strings to the instrument and brought Latin and jazz colours to Greek popular song.
Modern Greece · ActressKatina PaxinouΚατίνα Παξινού1900 – 1973Katina Paxinou, the great Greek tragic actress: Electra and Hecuba on the National Theatre stage, and the first Greek Oscar for For Whom the Bell Tolls.Modern Greece · Rebetiko singerRosa EskenaziΡόζα Εσκενάζυc. 1895 – 1980Rosa Eskenazi, the Sephardic Jewish queen of rebetiko and Smyrna song: hundreds of 1930s records, To kanarini, and the film My Sweet Canary.Modern Greece · ActorManos KatrakisΜάνος Κατράκης1908 – 1984Manos Katrakis, the Cretan actor with the great deep voice: Prometheus in ancient tragedy, the old tutor in Cacoyannis's Electra, the reader of Axion Esti.Modern Greece · PainterDimitris MytarasΔημήτρης Μυταράς1934 – 2017Dimitris Mytaras, the Greek expressionist painter of faces, women and dogs in blazing colour, and a teacher of generations at the Athens School of Fine Arts.Modern Greece · ComposerManos LoizosΜάνος Λοΐζος1937 – 1982Manos Loizos (Μάνος Λοΐζος), composer of the Greek 1970s: The Street, Old Streets, Good Morning Sun, love songs and songs of freedom sung by all of Greece.
Modern Greece · Laïko singerDimitris MitropanosΔημήτρης Μητροπάνος1948 – 2012Dimitris Mitropanos, the deep laïko voice from Trikala: Thessaloniki, Agios Fevrouarios, Roza and four decades of Greek popular song.
Modern Greece · General of 1821Odysseas AndroutsosΟδυσσέας Ανδρούτσοςc. 1790 – 1825Odysseas Androutsos, the 1821 captain born on Ithaca who held the Inn of Gravia against a whole army and was murdered on the Acropolis in 1825.
Modern Greece · Leader of the Filiki EtaireiaAlexandros YpsilantisΑλέξανδρος Υψηλάντης1792 – 1828Alexandros Ypsilantis, the one-armed Russian general who led the Filiki Etaireia and crossed the Prut in February 1821 to start the Greek Revolution.
Modern Greece · PhotographerNelly's (Elli Souyioultzoglou-Seraidari)Nelly's (Έλλη Σουγιουλτζόγλου-Σεραϊδάρη)1899 – 1998Nelly's, the Greek photographer from Asia Minor whose images of the Acropolis, the dancers on the Parthenon and Greek villages shaped how the world saw Greece.
Modern Greece · Mezzo-sopranoAgnes BaltsaΑγνή Μπάλτσα1944Agnes Baltsa brought her mezzo-soprano to international opera and Greek songs; discover her recordings and practise asking departure times in Greek.
Modern Greece · Lied singer and benefactorAlexandra TriantiΑλεξάνδρα Τριάντη1896/1901 – 1977Alexandra Trianti linked a European singing career with support for music in Athens: explore her legacy and practise reading a Greek concert programme.
Modern Greece · Actor · DirectorAlekos AlexandrakisΑλέκος Αλεξανδράκης1928 – 2005Alekos Alexandrakis linked Greek cinema and theatre, from Hippolytus to Συνοικία το όνειρο; discover his roles and learn to read a Greek cast list.
Antiquity · Lyric poetAlcaeus of MytileneΑλκαίος ο ΜυτιληναίοςAlcaeus of Mytilene shaped Greek lyric through politics, myth and storm imagery; practise waves coming από αριστερά / από δεξιά in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerAlkistis ProtopsaltiΆλκηστις Πρωτοψάλτη1954Alkistis Protopsalti connects Greek poetry, popular song and international adaptations; discover her recordings and practise invitations with πάμε.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterAmanda TenfjordΑμάντα ΓεωργιάδηAmanda Tenfjord connects Greek and Norwegian pop: explore her English songs, bilingual AMAN and Greek interviews, then practise expressing reactions.
Antiquity · Lyric poetAnacreonΑνακρέωνc. 570 BCE – c. 485 BCEAnacreon of Teos sang of love, wine and ageing in ancient Greek; explore fragment 395 and practise Modern Greek words for hair and colours.
Modern Greece · Novelist and journalistAndreas FrangiasΑνδρέας Φραγκιάς1921 – 2002Andreas Frangias wrote Greek novels about work, solidarity and dehumanisation; meet People and Houses and practise asking a friend for help.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterAndromacheΑνδρομάχηAndromache brings Greek pop and traditional influences to the stage: explore her recordings and turn Ela into friendly invitations in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerAnna VissiΆννα Βίσση1957Anna Vissi connects Cyprus, Greek pop and musical theatre: discover her Eurovision songs and stage career with an accessible A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Poet · EditorAntonis FostierisΑντώνης Φωστιέρης1953Antonis Fostieris explores memory, language and mortality in Greek poetry; meet his books and practise θυμάμαι and ξεχνώ through a short reading.
Antiquity · Poet · EpigrammatistAnyte of TegeaΑνύτη η ΤεγεάτιςAnyte of Tegea’s Greek epigrams give travellers shade and animals a voice; practise Κάθομαι στη σκιά and Πίνω δροσερό νερό in an original A2 rest scene.
Antiquity · Epic poet · ScholarApollonius of RhodesΑπολλώνιος ο ΡόδιοςApollonius of Rhodes retold the Argonauts’ voyage in Greek epic; follow the outward journey and practise από / προς, from and towards, in Modern Greek.
Antiquity · Archaic lyric poetArchilochusΑρχίλοχοςArchilochus of Paros brought a questioning voice to ancient Greek poetry; his shield fragment leads to Modern Greek practice with before-and-now descriptions.
Modern Greece · NovelistChristos ChomenidisΧρήστος Χωμενίδης1966Christos Chomenidis brings family stories and Greek history into fiction; explore Νίκη and practise the difference between a name and a common noun.
Modern Greece · Short-story writerChristos IkonomouΧρήστος Οικονόμου1970Christos Ikonomou listens to the rhythm of people under pressure; explore his Greek stories and practise θα δεις and θα δω in a plan for tomorrow.
Modern Greece · Singer · musical performerDemyΝτέμη1991Demy brings Greek pop and musical theatre together: discover her recordings, Eurovision appearance and practical Greek questions about days and summers.
Modern Greece · SingerDespina VandiΔέσποινα Βανδή1969Despina Vandi connects Greek pop, popular song and cinema: explore Gia, her recordings and everyday Greek expressions with an accessible A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Singer · composerDimitra GalaniΔήμητρα Γαλάνη1952Dimitra Galani connects Greek song, poetry and composition; discover her collaborations and practise everyday time expressions through a familiar title.
Modern Greece · Playwright · TranslatorDimitris DimitriadisΔημήτρης Δημητριάδης1944Dimitris Dimitriadis writes Greek prose and drama and translates plays; use his Macbeth credits to distinguish writing, translation and direction.
Modern Greece · Singer-songwriterDionysis SavvopoulosΔιονύσης Σαββόπουλος1944 – 2025Dionysis Savvopoulos joined Greek song, rock and storytelling; explore his albums and practise everyday Greek through the title Τραπεζάκια έξω.
Modern Greece · Singer · popular song and poetryEleftheria ArvanitakiΕλευθερία Αρβανιτάκη1957Eleftheria Arvanitaki brings Greek song and poetry together: explore her collaborations, listen for word stress and build a personal calendar in Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerEleftheria EleftheriouΕλευθερία Ελευθερίου1989Eleftheria Eleftheriou links Cyprus, Greek pop and Eurovision: explore her recordings and practise talking about changed plans through a Greek title.
Modern Greece · Pop singerElena TsagrinouΈλενα Τσαγκρινού1994Elena Tsagrinou moved from OtherView to Greek pop singles and Eurovision; her Greek song Πάμε απ’ την αρχή offers practice in listening and asking to repeat.
Modern Greece · SingerEleni FoureiraΕλένη Φουρέιρα1987Eleni Foureira brings dance and voice together in Greek pop: explore Fuego, her Greek recordings and everyday vocabulary through an A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Singer · Greek song and international repertoireElli PaspalaΈλλη Πασπαλά1957Elli Paspala connects New York training with Greek song and international repertoire; explore her recordings and describe colours in simple Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · PuppeteerEvgenia FakinouΕυγενία Φακίνου1945Evgenia Fakinou turned discarded objects into Tin City theatre and writes Greek fiction where memory and imagination meet; describe your own everyday objects.
Modern Greece · Singer · SongwriterGianna TerziΓιάννα Τερζή1980Gianna Terzi writes and sings Greek pop; her Eurovision song Όνειρό μου leads to practice in saying my dream, asking about yours and sharing a personal goal.
Modern Greece · Basketball playerGiannis AntetokounmpoΓιάννης Αντετοκούνμπο1994Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Athens-born basketball player who won the 2021 NBA title with Milwaukee and EuroBasket 2025 bronze with Greece.
Modern Greece · Composer · ConductorGiannis MarkopoulosΓιάννης Μαρκόπουλος1939 – 2023Giannis Markopoulos brought Greek poetry and traditional instruments into new musical forms; explore his works and practise πρώτος, πρώτη, πρώτο.
Modern Greece · Classical pianistGina BachauerΤζίνα Μπαχάουερ1910 – 1976Gina Bachauer carried Greek pianism onto international stages; discover her performances and use her Athens archive to practise everyday Greek document words.
Modern Greece · Singer · guitaristGeorge DalarasΓιώργος Νταλάρας1949George Dalaras connects Greek laiko, rebetiko and new songs through albums and concerts; practise listening, rhythm and everyday Greek phrases.
Modern Greece · SculptorGiorgos ZongolopoulosΓιώργος Ζογγολόπουλος1903 – 2004Giorgos Zongolopoulos shaped Greek public spaces with sculptures such as Ομπρέλες; discover his work and describe materials and positions in Greek.
Modern Greece · SingerGlykeriaΓλυκερία1953Glykeria brings Greek popular song and Smyrna’s musical memory to new listeners: explore her recordings and everyday words with an A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterHaris AlexiouΧάρις Αλεξίου1950Haris Alexiou connects Greek laiko, contemporary song and acting: explore her recordings, collaborations and warm voice through Greek listening.
Modern Greece · Pop singerHelena PaparizouΈλενα Παπαρίζου1982Helena Paparizou brought Greece its first Eurovision victory with My Number One in 2005; discover her pop career through an A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Poet and librettistIoulita IliopoulouΙουλίτα ΗλιοπούλουIoulita Iliopoulou writes poetry, opera texts and stories for children; explore her work and practise Greek questions about waiting and future arrivals.
Antiquity · PoetErinnaΉρινναErinna’s fragmentary Greek poetry remembers friendship; an attributed portrait epigram opens an A2 activity describing a drawing and imagining a voice.
Modern Greece · SingerIvi AdamouΉβη Αδάμου1993Ivi Adamou connects Cyprus, Greek pop and Eurovision: discover La La Love, her Greek recordings and everyday words through an accessible A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Pop · laïko singerKaiti GarbiΚαίτη Γαρμπή1961Kaiti Garbi connects Greek pop and laïko, from Eurovision to new recordings: explore her titles, interviews and everyday Greek with an A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterKaterine DuskaΚατερίνα Ντούσκα1989Katerine Duska connects Montreal, Athens and indie pop: explore her Greek and English recordings and explain a musical choice in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet and travel writerKostas OuranisΚώστας Ουράνης1890 – 1953Kostas Ouranis turned journeys into Greek poetry and travel prose; explore his Mystras description and practise είναι and ήταν with a landscape.
Modern Greece · Composer · pianistLena PlatonosΛένα Πλάτωνος1951Lena Platonos brought Greek voices, everyday sounds and poetry into electronic music; explore her albums and practise a simple spoken Greek question.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterMaria Elena KyriakouΜαρία Έλενα Κυριάκου1984Maria Elena Kyriakou links Greek song, teaching and Eurovision: discover her recordings and practise reading Greek sentences aloud with clear pauses.
Modern Greece · Tennis playerMaria SakkariΜαρία Σάκκαρη1995Maria Sakkari reached world No. 3 in 2022 and won Guadalajara in 2023: explore Greek tennis vocabulary, dated results and her voice through A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Singer · producerMarina SattiΜαρίνα Σάττι1986Marina Satti mixes Greek traditional singing with pop and electronic beats: explore Koupes, Mantissa and Zari while developing Greek listening skills.
Modern Greece · SingerMarinellaΜαρινέλλα1938 – 2026Marinella brought Greek popular song to Eurovision and the theatre: explore her voice, recordings and stage career through an accessible A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · NovelistMaro DoukaΜάρω Δούκα1947Maro Douka explores memory, women’s voices and Greek history in fiction; her novel Entrance Gateway opens a practical lesson in here and there.
Modern Greece · Singer · contemporary Greek songMelina KanaΜελίνα Κανά1966Melina Kana links Thessaloniki’s songwriting scene with contemporary Greek song; explore her albums and practise the difference between για and με.
Modern Greece · Poet and lyricistMichalis GanasΜιχάλης Γκανάς1944 – 2024Michalis Ganas brought memories of Epirus into Greek poetry and song; discover Glass Ioannina and practise saying where you live and come from.
Modern Greece · Composer · PianistMimis PlessasΜίμης Πλέσσας1924 – 2024Mimis Plessas brought jazz, song and cinema together; discover his Greek film scores and practise expressing musical preferences through a familiar title.
Modern Greece · SingerNatassa BofiliouΝατάσσα Μποφίλιου1983Natassa Bofiliou gives Greek song a powerful collective voice: explore her albums and practise a polite request for two neighbouring concert seats.
Modern Greece · Actor · screenwriterNia VardalosΝία Βαρντάλος1962Nia Vardalos brings Greek diaspora stories to film and theatre: explore her writing, English-language films and Greek stage work through an A2 reading.
Modern Greece · Writer and essayistNikos DimouΝίκος Δήμου1935Nikos Dimou writes satire, essays and autobiography; explore My Streets and use a childhood place to practise a short personal memory in Greek.
Modern Greece · PainterNikos NikolaouΝίκος Νικολάου1909 – 1986Nikos Nikolaou painted figures, island landscapes and sea stones; explore his Greek art and practise reading a portrait’s title, date and materials.
Modern Greece · Singer-songwriter · ProducerNikos PapazoglouΝίκος Παπάζογλου1948 – 2011Nikos Papazoglou linked Greek song, live performance and the Agrotikon studio; discover his records and practise daily greetings through Καλημέρα.
Modern Greece · Poet and illustratorPavlina PampoudiΠαυλίνα Παμπούδη1948Pavlina Pampoudi combines poetry, prose and playful books for children; explore her work and practise Greek syllables by changing one word into another.
Modern Greece · Pianist and composerRena KyriakouΡένα Κυριακού1917 – 1994Rena Kyriakou combined an international piano career with her own compositions; discover her music and practise Greek comparisons of tempo and loudness.
Modern Greece · Singer · dancerSilia KapsisΣίλια Καψή2006Silia Kapsis connects song and dance across Sydney and Cyprus: practise Greek goals and rehearsal verbs through interviews, while Liar remains an English song.
Modern Greece · Singer-songwriter · GuitaristSokratis MalamasΣωκράτης Μάλαμας1957Sokratis Malamas brings guitar, Greek songwriting and shared singing together; explore his records and practise invitations with Πάμε να φύγουμε.
Modern Greece · Composer · SongwriterStavros KougioumtzisΣταύρος Κουγιουμτζής1932 – 2005Stavros Kougioumtzis shaped Greek song with lyrical melodies; explore his albums and use Small Towns and High Windows to practise Greek adjectives.
Modern Greece · Composer and conductorStavros XarchakosΣταύρος Ξαρχάκος1939Stavros Xarchakos links Greek song with theatre and cinema; explore Rebetiko and practise Greek by distinguishing voices, choir and instrumental music.
Modern Greece · SingerTamtaΤάμτα1981Tamta brings Georgian roots and changing sounds to Greek pop: explore Replay, her Greek recordings and useful expressions with an A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Soprano · Opera and filmTeresa StratasΤερέζα Στράτας1938Teresa Stratas joined Greek-Canadian musical roots with expressive opera acting; discover her roles and read a Greek tribute listing for date and time.
Modern Greece · Painter · visual chroniclerThalia Flora-KaraviaΘάλεια Φλωρά-Καραβία1871 – 1960Thalia Flora-Karavia painted portraits and landscapes and recorded Greek wartime life in sketches; practise looking and describing in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Songwriter · SingerThanasis PapakonstantinouΘανάσης Παπακωνσταντίνου1959Thanasis Papakonstantinou mixes Greek song with adventurous arrangements; discover his collaborations and practise που through Με στόμα που γελά.
Antiquity · Bucolic poetTheocritusΘεόκριτοςTheocritus shaped Greek bucolic poetry through shepherds, city voices and vivid landscapes; discover fruit words through his Harvest Festival.
Modern Greece · SingerVicky LeandrosΒίκυ Λέανδρος1952Vicky Leandros connects Greek song, French chanson and German pop: discover her Eurovision victory, international career and an A2 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Composer · keyboardistYanniΓιάννης Χρυσομάλλης1954Yanni connects Kalamata, electronic keyboards and the Acropolis concert: explore his instrumental music and describe sound and mood in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet and diplomatGiorgos SeferisΓιώργος Σεφέρης1900 – 1971Giorgos Seferis (1900–1971), Greece's first Nobel laureate: Mythistorema, Thrush and the song Denial (Arnisi), his diplomatic career and his stand against the junta.
Modern Greece · PoetKostas KaryotakisΚώστας Καρυωτάκης1896 – 1928Kostas Karyotakis (1896–1928), the poet of Preveza and Elegies and Satires: his short life as a civil servant, his bitter verse and the songs made from it.
Modern Greece · NovelistStratis MyrivilisΣτράτης Μυριβήλης1890 – 1969Stratis Myrivilis (1890–1969), soldier and novelist from Lesbos, wrote Life in the Tomb, the Greek anti-war classic, and The Mermaid Madonna.
Antiquity · TragedianSophoclesΣοφοκλήςc. 497 BC – 406 BCSophocles (c. 497–406 BC), tragedian of Antigone, Oedipus the King and Electra: his life in Athens, his seven surviving plays and why Greece still stages them.
Antiquity · Comic playwrightAristophanesΑριστοφάνηςc. 446 BC – c. 386 BCAristophanes (c. 446–386 BC), Athens' comic playwright: Lysistrata, The Birds, The Clouds and The Frogs, his jokes about Socrates, and why Greeks still laugh.
Antiquity · Mathematician and inventorArchimedesΑρχιμήδηςc. 287 BC – c. 212 BCArchimedes of Syracuse (Archimidis), the Greek mathematician of Eureka, the lever, the screw and the principle of buoyancy, killed by a Roman soldier in 212 BC.
Antiquity · PhysicianHippocratesΙπποκράτηςc. 460 BC – c. 370 BCHippocrates of Kos (Ippokratis), the father of medicine: the Hippocratic Oath, the Aphorisms, disease as nature not divine punishment, and the plane tree on Kos.
Antiquity · Mathematician and philosopherHypatiaΥπατίαc. 355 – 415Hypatia of Alexandria (Ypatia), mathematician, astronomer and Neoplatonist teacher, murdered by a mob in 415 and remembered as a symbol of free thought.
Modern Greece · General of 1821Theodoros KolokotronisΘεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης1770 – 1843Theodoros Kolokotronis, the Old Man of the Morea: general of the 1821 War of Independence, victor at Tripolitsa and Dervenakia, author of famous memoirs.
Modern Greece · PoetMaria PolydouriΜαρία Πολυδούρη1902 – 1930Maria Polydouri (Polidouri), the lyric poet who loved Karyotakis and died of tuberculosis at 28: Oi trillies pou svinoun, Icho sto chaos and the song Mono giati m' agapises.
Modern Greece · Novelist and playwrightGrigorios XenopoulosΓρηγόριος Ξενόπουλος1867 – 1951Grigorios Xenopoulos, novelist, playwright and «Faidon» of the children's magazine Diaplasis ton Paidon: Stella Violanti, The Red Rock, Rich and Poor.
Modern Greece · Novelist, first IOC presidentDimitrios VikelasΔημήτριος Βικέλας1835 – 1908Dimitrios Vikelas, London merchant, author of Loukis Laras and first president of the IOC, who brought the first modern Olympic Games to Athens in 1896.
Modern Greece · Poet and seamanNikos KavvadiasΝίκος Καββαδίας1910 – 1975Nikos Kavvadias (Kavadias), the Greek poet who spent his life as a ship's radio operator: Marabou, Pousi, Traverso and the songs of The Southern Cross.Modern Greece · NovelistAntonis SamarakisΑντώνης Σαμαράκης1919 – 2003Antonis Samarakis, the Greek novelist of The Flaw (Το λάθος, 1965) and the short stories Hope Wanted and I Refuse: plain prose, humane politics, read in every Greek school.
Modern Greece · Rebetiko singer and bouzouki playerMarkos VamvakarisΜάρκος Βαμβακάρης1905 – 1972Markos Vamvakaris, the patriarch of rebetiko: from the slaughterhouses of Piraeus to Frangosyriani and the bouzouki songs every Greek knows by heart.
Modern Greece · Composer, bouzouki playerVassilis TsitsanisΒασίλης Τσιτσάνης1915 – 1984Vassilis Tsitsanis, the composer who took rebetiko from the hashish den to all of Greece: Cloudy Sunday, Archontissa, Baxe Tsifliki and hundreds more songs.
Modern Greece · PainterYannis TsarouchisΓιάννης Τσαρούχης1910 – 1989Yannis Tsarouchis, the painter of sailors, soldiers and coffee houses who joined Byzantine icons and folk art with Matisse, and designed sets for Koun and Maria Callas.
Modern Greece · Officer, Macedonian StrugglePavlos MelasΠαύλος Μελάς1870 – 1904Pavlos Melas, the Greek army officer who fought as Kapetan Mikis Zezas in the Macedonian Struggle and was killed at Statista in 1904, aged thirty-four.
Modern Greece · PoetAristotelis ValaoritisΑριστοτέλης Βαλαωρίτης1824 – 1879Aristotelis Valaoritis, the poet of Lefkada who sang the heroes of 1821 in demotic Greek: Kyra Frosyni, Athanasios Diakos, Astrapogiannos and Fotinos.Modern Greece · Novelist, journalistIoannis KondylakisΙωάννης Κονδυλάκης1861 – 1920Ioannis Kondylakis, the Cretan novelist and journalist of Patouchas, When I Was a Teacher and First Love, and father of the Greek newspaper chronicle.
Modern Greece · NovelistIlias VenezisΗλίας Βενέζης1904 – 1973Ilias Venezis, the novelist of lost Asia Minor: Number 31328 on the labour battalions of 1922, Serenity, and Aeolian Earth, the childhood paradise of Ayvalık.Modern Greece · Novelist, playwrightMargarita LiberakiΜαργαρίτα Λυμπεράκη1919 – 2001Margarita Liberaki, author of The Straw Hats (1946), the novel of three sisters' summers in Kifissia, and co-writer of Jules Dassin's film Phaedra.
Modern Greece · NovelistVassilis VassilikosΒασίλης Βασιλικός1934 – 2023Vassilis Vassilikos (Βασίλης Βασιλικός), author of Z (1966), the novel of the Lambrakis murder that became Costa-Gavras' Oscar-winning film.Modern Greece · PainterNikos Hadjikyriakos-GhikaΝίκος Χατζηκυριάκος-Γκίκας1906 – 1994Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, the painter who married Cubism and Greek light: Hydra landscapes, the Generation of the Thirties, and his house-museum in Kolonaki.Modern Greece · Painter, writerFotis KontoglouΦώτης Κόντογλου1895 – 1965Fotis Kontoglou, the refugee painter from Ayvalık who brought Byzantine icon painting back to life and wrote Pedro Cazas and Aivali, My Homeland.
Modern Greece · Folk singer, researcherDomna SamiouΔόμνα Σαμίου1928 – 2012Domna Samiou, the singer and researcher who spent her life collecting, recording and singing the folk songs of Greece and of the Asia Minor Greeks.
Modern Greece · PoetKostas KrystallisΚώστας Κρυστάλλης1868 – 1894Kostas Krystallis, the young poet of Epirus who sang of shepherds, mountains and village life in demotic Greek before dying of tuberculosis at twenty-six.Modern Greece · NovelistMaria IordanidouΜαρία Ιορδανίδου1897 – 1989Maria Iordanidou, author of Loxandra, the much-loved novel of Greek life in old Constantinople that she published at sixty-six, and Holidays in the Caucasus.Modern Greece · Humorist, screenwriterNikos TsiforosΝίκος Τσιφόρος1909 – 1970Nikos Tsiforos, the Athenian humorist who retold the Greek myths in street slang in Elliniki Mythologia and wrote scripts for the golden age of Greek comedy.
Modern Greece · ArchaeologistManolis AndronikosΜανόλης Ανδρόνικος1919 – 1992Manolis Andronikos, the archaeologist who in 1977 opened the royal tombs of Vergina, ancient Aigai, including the tomb he attributed to Philip II.
Modern Greece · Resistance hero, politicianManolis GlezosΜανώλης Γλέζος1922 – 2020Manolis Glezos, the student who tore the swastika down from the Acropolis in May 1941, then spent a lifetime in the Resistance, in prison and in parliament.Modern Greece · Resistance heroineLela KaragianniΛέλα Καραγιάννη1898 – 1944Lela Karagianni, the Athenian mother of seven who led the Bouboulina Resistance network against the Nazi occupation and was executed at Haidari in 1944.Modern Greece · ComposerApostolos KaldarasΑπόστολος Καλδάρας1922 – 1990Apostolos Kaldaras (Απόστολος Καλδάρας), rebetiko and laïko composer of Night Fell Without a Moon and of Mikra Asia (1972), the album of the Asia Minor refugees.
Modern Greece · AstronomerDimitrios EginitisΔημήτριος Αιγινήτης1862 – 1934Dimitrios Eginitis, the astronomer who rebuilt the National Observatory of Athens, founded its weather and earthquake services and helped bring the new calendar in 1923.
Renaissance · Poet · empressAelia EudociaΑιλία Ευδοκίαc. 400 – 460Aelia Eudocia joined Homeric verse to Christian stories: meet the fifth-century imperial poet through her travels and a supported B1 Greek reading.
Modern Greece · Sculptor and visual artistAlex MylonaΆλεξ Μυλωνά1920 – 2016Alex Mylona explored metal, marble and geometric form, connecting modern Greek sculpture with drawing, stage design and everyday human surroundings.
Modern Greece · Documentary filmmakerAlinda DimitriouΑλίντα Δημητρίου1933 – 2013Alinda Dimitriou recorded labour and women’s political memories in Greek documentaries: explore her films and practise listening to a voice, pause and timeline.
Modern Greece · Novelist · short-story writerAmanda MichalopoulouΑμάντα Μιχαλοπούλου1966Amanda Michalopoulou reshapes stories through voices, details and rewriting: discover her Greek books and practise making a short scene clearer in Greek.
Antiquity · Philosopher of natureAnaxagorasΑναξαγόραςc. 500 BC – 428 BCAnaxagoras brought natural inquiry to Athens, explaining eclipses and a cosmos of mixtures set in motion by Nous, the ordering power of mind.
Antiquity · Philosopher of natureAnaximanderΑναξίμανδροςc. 610 BC – c. 546 BCAnaximander explored the boundless origin of nature, pictured an unsupported Earth and left a fragment that still raises questions about time and change.
Antiquity · Natural philosopherAnaximenesΑναξιμένης6th c. BCAnaximenes explained nature through air and its changes: follow later Greek reports, describe the weather and distinguish observation from an ancient theory.
Modern Greece · Folklorist and folk-art scholarAngeliki ChatzimichaliΑγγελική Χατζημιχάλη1895 – 1965Angeliki Chatzimichali studied Greek textiles, dress and everyday craft, connecting fieldwork, exhibitions and books with the people who made objects.
Modern Greece · Actress and theatre company founderAnna SynodinouΆννα Συνοδινού1927 – 2016Anna Synodinou brought Greek tragedy to open-air stages: explore her roles and theatre company, then practise clear speech, pauses and question intonation.
Modern Greece · Experimental filmmaker and visual artistAntoinetta AngelidiΑντουανέττα Αγγελίδη1950Antoinetta Angelidi builds feminist experimental cinema from painting, architecture and dream: discover her films and describe framed space in Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet · Novelist · TranslatorAris AlexandrouΆρης Αλεξάνδρου1922 – 1978Aris Alexandrou joins poetry, translation and the questioning voice of The Box; practise Greek ξέρω ότι and ίσως to separate knowledge from conjecture.
Antiquity · Mathematician and astronomerAristarchus of SamosΑρίσταρχος ο Σάμιοςc. 310 BC – c. 230 BCAristarchus of Samos used Greek geometry to study Sun and Moon and proposed a moving Earth, a lost hypothesis reported by Archimedes.
Modern Greece · Actress, theatre organiser and writerAspasia PapathanassiouΑσπασία Παπαθανασίου1918 – 2020Aspasia Papathanassiou carried Greek drama across borders: explore her roles and touring work, then distinguish visible action from possible interpretation.
Antiquity · Figure of classical AthensAspasiaΑσπασία5th c. BCAspasia of Miletus appears in Greek comedy and philosophy: explore her Athenian reputation and learn to distinguish literary voices from evidence.
Modern Greece · Poet and journalistAthina PapadakiΑθηνά Παπαδάκη1945Athina Papadaki brings animals, bodies and transformation into Greek poetry; discover her work and practise όταν through everyday changes and responses.
Modern Greece · Filmmaker and producerAthina Rachel TsangariΑθηνά Ραχήλ Τσαγγάρη1966Athina Rachel Tsangari explores bodies, groups and social rules in Attenberg and Chevalier, connecting Greek cinema with an international filmmaking career.
Modern Greece · Visual artistBia DavouΜπία Ντάβου1932 – 1996Bia Davou connected drawing, number sequences and textile work, exploring how repeated marks could become visual structures and poetic forms of communication.
Modern Greece · Poet and translatorChrysa ProkopakiΧρύσα Προκοπάκη1940Chrysa Prokopaki joins poetry, translation and literary scholarship; explore her work and practise Greek object pronouns through a poem about old belongings.
Modern Greece · Visual artistChryssa RomanosΧρύσα Ρωμανού1931 – 2006Chryssa Romanos transformed printed images, colour and transparent layers into collages and constructions, linking visual culture with social questions.
Modern Greece · Installation and land artistDanae StratouΔανάη Στράτου1964Danae Stratou creates installations with earth, water, images and sound, exploring landscape, human movement and connection in contemporary Greek art.
Modern Greece · Choreographer and visual artistDimitris PapaioannouΔημήτρης Παπαϊωάννου1964Dimitris Papaioannou turns bodies, objects and light into wordless theatre, from Edafos Dance Theatre to the Athens 2004 ceremonies and international stages.
Antiquity · PhilosopherDemocritusΔημόκριτοςc. 460 BC – c. 370 BCDemocritus of Abdera: atoms and the void, knowledge and cheerfulness. Meet the ancient philosopher through a B1 Greek reading and translated vocabulary.
Modern Greece · Film/theatre directorDimos AvdeliodisΔήμος Αβδελιώδης1952Dimos Avdeliodis links Chios, Greek cinema and literary theatre; explore his films and practise how voice and emphasis change a Greek phrase’s meaning.
Modern Greece · Dance organiser · cultural heritageDora StratouΔόρα Στράτου1903 – 1988Dora Stratou brought regional Greek dances, music and costumes to the stage: discover her theatre and practise Greek words for steps, hands and directions.
Modern Greece · Painter and art teacherEleni Boukoura-AltamouraΕλένη Μπούκουρα-Αλταμούρα1821/1824 – 1900Eleni Boukoura-Altamoura pursued painting in nineteenth-century Italy and Athens, leaving self-portraits, studies and a place in Greek women’s art history.
Modern Greece · Composer · film and theatreEleni KaraindrouΕλένη Καραΐνδρου1941Eleni Karaindrou gives Greek cinema a distinctive musical voice: discover her film scores and practise naming instruments and describing mood in Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet and art criticEleni VakaloΕλένη Βακαλό1921 – 2001Eleni Vakalo connects experimental Greek poetry, art criticism and teaching, asking readers to notice how perception, feeling and responsibility meet.
Modern Greece · Philologist · lexicographerEmmanuel KriarasΕμμανουήλ Κριαράς1906 – 2014Emmanuel Kriaras studied Greek words across centuries: explore his dictionaries and practise finding verb forms, reading source labels and using Modern Greek.
Antiquity · Philosopher and poetEmpedoclesΕμπεδοκλήςc. 490 BC – c. 430 BCEmpedocles explained a changing world through four roots and the forces Love and Strife, composing Greek poetry in fifth-century-BC Sicily.
Antiquity · Stoic philosopherEpictetusΕπίκτητοςc. AD 55 – c. AD 135Epictetus taught in Nicopolis that freedom begins with our choices; his pupil Arrian preserved lively lessons about judgment and daily responsibility.
Antiquity · Mathematician and geographerEratosthenesΕρατοσθένηςc. 276 BC – c. 194 BCEratosthenes linked shadows, distances and geometry to estimate Earth’s size, while writing Greek geography, mathematics and poetry in Alexandria.
Antiquity · SculptorPheidiasΦειδίαςPheidias shaped fifth-century Greek images of Athena and Zeus; lost statues, later copies and workshop evidence reveal his art and its limits.
Modern Greece · Film director · writerFrida LiappaΦρίντα Λιάππα1948 – 1994Frida Liappa joined film, literature and women’s memories in Greek cinema; explore her work and practise narrating the past through an ERT portrait.
Modern Greece · Novelist and poetGalatea KazantzakiΓαλάτεια Καζαντζάκη1881 – 1962Galatea Kazantzaki wrote Greek fiction and poetry about women, inequality and society, building a literary career of her own from Crete to Athens.
Antiquity · Physician and medical writerGalenΓαληνόςAD 129 – c. AD 216Galen wrote in Greek about the body, reasoning and medical practice, shaping centuries of learning from Pergamon to Rome and across later cultures.
Modern Greece · Linguist and lexicographerGeorgios BabiniotisΓεώργιος Μπαμπινιώτης1939Georgios Babiniotis brought linguistics into Greek public life through dictionaries, teaching and discussions of meaning, spelling and everyday usage.
Modern Greece · Laïko singer · vocal teacherGiota NegkaΓιώτα ΝέγκαGiota Negka brings a rebetiko background to contemporary Greek song; discover her recordings and practise the language of friendship and support.
Modern Greece · Novelist · screenwriterIoanna KarystianiΙωάννα Καρυστιάνη1952Ioanna Karystiani writes Greek novels of island homes, sea voyages and unheard voices: explore Little England and practise describing space and sound in Greek.
Renaissance · Byzantine empressIrene of AthensΕιρήνη η Αθηναίαc. 752 – 803Irene of Athens ruled Byzantium and backed the council of 787: examine her coins, contested power and Greek titles through a supported B1 reading.
Modern Greece · Mezzo-soprano · PianistIrma KolassiΊρμα Κολάση1918 – 2012Irma Kolassi linked Greek opera, folk song and French recital music; explore her recordings and learn Greek by comparing scores, letters and photos.
Antiquity · Poet · ScholarCallimachusΚαλλίμαχοςc. 305 BC – c. 240 BCCallimachus explores the origins of names and customs in Aetia; practise Modern Greek γιατί and επειδή by asking why you keep a festival souvenir.
Renaissance · Poet · hymnographerKassiani (Kassia)Κασσιανή (Κασσία)c. 800–810Kassiani wrote Greek hymns in Byzantine Constantinople: meet her poetry, separate legend from evidence and hear medieval words in living worship.
Modern Greece · Poet and translatorKaterina Anghelaki-RookeΚατερίνα Αγγελάκη-Ρουκ1939 – 2020Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke explored body, time and desire in Greek poetry: discover her writing and practise describing everyday objects through the senses.
Modern Greece · Judge · former presidentKaterina SakellaropoulouΚατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου1956Katerina Sakellaropoulou was Greece’s first woman president (2020–2025): explore her judicial career and the Greek language of public life at B1.
Antiquity · Queen of EgyptCleopatra VIIΚλεοπάτρα Ζ΄69 BC – 30 BCCleopatra VII ruled Egypt between Greek and Roman worlds: discover her diplomacy, coins and contested image through a B1 Greek reading and vocabulary.
Modern Greece · Landscape painterKonstantinos MaleasΚωνσταντίνος Μαλέας1879 – 1928Konstantinos Maleas renewed Greek landscape painting through bold colour and simplified forms, while his illustrations also supported learning to read.
Antiquity · Lyric poetCorinnaΚόρινναCorinna gave Boeotian myths a poetic voice: explore her surviving fragments, disputed date and a supported route into Modern Greek at B1 level.
Modern Greece · Film director · screenwriterCosta-GavrasΚώστας Γαβράς1933Costa-Gavras makes power and responsibility suspenseful: explore his multilingual cinema and practise Greek through interviews, titles and scene descriptions.
Modern Greece · Dance teacher and choreographerKoula PratsikaΚούλα Πράτσικα1899 – 1984Koula Pratsika linked music, rhythm and movement in teaching and performance, helping build professional dance education and a lasting school in Athens.
Modern Greece · Visual and performance artistLeda PapakonstantinouΛήδα Παπακωνσταντίνου1945Leda Papakonstantinou connects performance, video and material installations, exploring the body, memory and ecology in contemporary Greek art.
Modern Greece · Writer and journalistLafcadio HearnΛευκάδιος Χερν1850 – 1904Lafcadio Hearn carried a Greek-Irish life from Lefkada to Japan, writing in English about journeys, local traditions and memorable ghost stories.
Modern Greece · Novelist and historianLena DivaniΛένα Διβάνη1955Lena Divani brings history, social satire and unexpected narrators into Greek prose: explore her books and practise articles, professions and changing roles.
Modern Greece · Violinist · ConductorLeonidas KavakosΛεωνίδας Καβάκος1967Leonidas Kavakos brings Greek musicianship to international stages; explore his Bach recordings and practise careful Greek notes through repeated listening.
Modern Greece · Actress · director · theatre teacherLydia KoniordouΛυδία Κονιόρδου1953Lydia Koniordou connects ancient drama, regional theatre and television; discover her roles and practise Greek through voice, pauses and everyday speech.
Modern Greece · Poet and translatorManto AravantinouΜαντώ Αραβαντινού1923/1926 – 1998Manto Aravantinou explores memory, space and language in experimental Greek poetry, while her translations and research connect Greek readers with James Joyce.
Modern Greece · Singer · interpreter of poetryMaria FarantouriΜαρία Φαραντούρη1947Maria Farantouri carries Greek poetry into song and international collaboration: explore memory, musical dialogue and Modern Greek through a B1 reading.
Modern Greece · Poet, prose writerMaria Kentrou-AgathopoulouΜαρία Κέντρου-Αγαθοπούλου1930Maria Kentrou-Agathopoulou turns Thessaloniki’s daily life into poetry and prose; explore her books and practise Greek for observation and imagination.
Modern Greece · Poet and translatorMaria KyrtzakiΜαρία Κυρτζάκη1948 – 2016Maria Kyrtzaki brought an urgent speaking voice to Greek poetry; discover her work and practise shared suggestions through the phrase ας μιλήσουμε.
Modern Greece · Sculptor and installation artistMaria LoizidouΜαρία Λοϊζίδου1958Maria Loizidou connects drawing, sculpture and collective handwork, exploring memory, belonging and the strength of fragile forms across Cyprus and Greece.
Modern Greece · Film director and editorMaria PlytaΜαρία Πλυτά1915 – 2006Maria Plyta brought women’s desires and ordinary lives into Greek cinema: discover her films, then order your own short sequence with Greek time expressions.
Antiquity · Playwright · New ComedyMenanderΜένανδροςc. 344–342 BC – c. 292–291 BCMenander turns neighbours and misunderstandings into comedy: discover recovered Greek plays and practise asking for clarification before judging a character.
Modern Greece · Fiction writer · TranslatorMenis KoumantareasΜένης Κουμανταρέας1931 – 2014Menis Koumantareas turns Athenian streets into fiction; explore The Barber Shop and practise Greek viewpoints with βλέπει and φαίνεται in a mirror scene.
Modern Greece · Poet and painterNana IsaiaΝανά Ησαΐα1934 – 2003Nana Isaia connects poetry, prose, translation and geometric painting, exploring creative lives through the interplay of images, words and narrative voices.
Modern Greece · Film directorNikos KoundourosΝίκος Κούνδουρος1926 – 2017Nikos Koundouros brought a painter’s eye to Greek cinema, from Ο Δράκος to 1922; explore his films and learn Greek through their titles and credits.
Modern Greece · Lyricist · Prose writerOdysseas IoannouΟδυσσέας Ιωάννου1967Odysseas Ioannou writes for songs, radio and the page; explore Become Water and turn everyday intentions into short Greek sentences with να γράψω.
Antiquity · Philosopher and poetParmenidesΠαρμενίδηςc. 515 BCParmenides of Elea explored being, truth and the natural world in a Greek poem. Meet his questions through a B1 reading and translated vocabulary.
Modern Greece · Novelist · crime fictionPetros MarkarisΠέτρος Μάρκαρης1937Petros Markaris follows Inspector Haritos through Athens: discover Greek crime fiction and practise dictionary skills, precise words and questions about clues.
Antiquity · Sophist and teacherProtagorasΠρωταγόραςc. 490 BC – c. 420 BCProtagoras taught argument and careful language in fifth-century Greece, asking how human experience shapes judgment and what people can know.
Modern Greece · Dancer, choreographer and teacherRallou ManouΡαλλού Μάνου1915 – 1988Rallou Manou brought choreography, music and visual design together in the Greek Choreodrama, creating new stage works through artistic collaboration.
Modern Greece · Visual artist and teacherRena PapaspyrouΡένα Παπασπύρου1938Rena Papaspyrou discovers images in everyday urban materials, connecting drawing, found surfaces and the traces of time with Greek conceptual art.
Modern Greece · Singer · composerSavina YannatouΣαβίνα Γιαννάτου1959Savina Yannatou connects Greek song, Mediterranean traditions and vocal improvisation; explore her recordings and compare sung and everyday Greek.
Antiquity · Lyric poetSimonides of CeosΣιμωνίδης ο Κείοςc. 556 BC – c. 468 BCSimonides of Ceos wrote Greek songs of praise, grief and human limits: explore transmitted fragments and practise being and becoming in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · PainterSofia LaskaridouΣοφία Λασκαρίδου1876 – 1965Sofia Laskaridou painted landscapes, portraits and everyday scenes, linking artistic study in Athens, Munich and Paris with a career in Greece.
Modern Greece · Novelist, historian and translatorSoti TriantafyllouΣώτη Τριανταφύλλου1957Soti Triantafyllou writes Greek fiction across cities, migrations and historical worlds: explore her novels and practise choosing a voice for a letter.
Modern Greece · Painter and church decoratorSpyros PapaloukasΣπύρος Παπαλουκάς1892 – 1957Spyros Papaloukas brings Byzantine art and modern painting into conversation through Greek landscapes, carefully built forms and expressive colour.
Modern Greece · Filmmaker and actorStavros TornesΣταύρος Τορνές1932 – 1988Stavros Tornes joins everyday encounters and dreamlike journeys in a handmade cinema sustained by friendship, imaginative freedom and modest means.
Antiquity · Geographer and historianStraboΣτράβωνc. 64 BC – c. AD 24Strabo described the inhabited world in seventeen Greek books, combining places, peoples and history under Rome while questioning earlier geographical writers.
Modern Greece · Singer · actressTania TsanaklidouΤάνια Τσανακλίδου1952Tania Tsanaklidou brings theatre into Greek song, from Mama Gernao to The Magic Box; discover her work and practise talking about feelings in Greek.
Modern Greece · Fiction writer · ScreenwriterThanasis ValtinosΘανάσης Βαλτινός1932 – 2024Thanasis Valtinos transformed letters and remembered voices into fiction; explore his prose and practise polite Greek requests through a letter-based novel.
Renaissance · Byzantine empressTheodoraΘεοδώραc. 500 – 548Theodora ruled beside Justinian in sixth-century Byzantium: read Greek words of power and compare a mosaic, a petition and Procopius’s dramatic speech.
Modern Greece · Theatre director and teacherTheodoros TerzopoulosΘεόδωρος Τερζόπουλος1945Theodoros Terzopoulos connects Greek tragedy and international theatre through Attis, a searching approach to the actor’s body, voice and shared space.
Antiquity · Philosopher and naturalistTheophrastusΘεόφραστοςc. 371 BC – c. 287 BCTheophrastus investigated plants and everyday behaviour in Greek, linking precise natural description with vivid sketches of Athenian character.
Modern Greece · Novelist and translatorTheodor KallifatidesΘοδωρής Καλλιφατίδης1938Theodor Kallifatides writes between Greek and Swedish; explore memory and belonging, and practise ακόμα through the title of his Greek book Another Life.
Modern Greece · Poet · TranslatorTitos PatrikiosΤίτος Πατρίκιος1928Titos Patrikios connects everyday language with history and memory; explore Poetry Finds You and practise εκεί που for a place or an unexpected moment.
Modern Greece · Film director · screenwriterTonia MarketakiΤώνια Μαρκετάκη1942 – 1994Tonia Marketaki explored power, money and women’s choices in Greek cinema; discover her films and practise explaining a decision through Greek dialogue.
Modern Greece · Poet · TranslatorJenny MastorakiΤζένη Μαστοράκη1949 – 2024Jenny Mastoraki explored family, memory and language in Greek poetry and translation; discover her books and compare everyday words for relatives.
Antiquity · Philosopher of paradoxZeno of EleaΖήνων ο Ελεάτηςc. 490 BCZeno of Elea used a runner, a tortoise and an arrow to challenge assumptions about motion and number in the Greek world of fifth-century-BC Italy.
Modern Greece · Dancer, choreographer and teacherZouzou NikoloudiΖουζού Νικολούδη1917 – 2004Zouzou Nikoloudi explored the meeting of voice, music and movement, creating modern choral performances and a lasting approach to teaching dance in Greece.
Modern Greece · PoetKiki DimoulaΚική Δημουλά1931 – 2020Kiki Dimoula (1931–2020), the Athens bank clerk who became Greece's best-loved modern poet: Το λίγο του κόσμου, Χαίρε ποτέ and her games with grammar and loss.
Modern Greece · PoetAngelos SikelianosΆγγελος Σικελιανός1884 – 1951Angelos Sikelianos (1884–1951), poet of Αλαφροΐσκιωτος and Μήτηρ Θεού, who revived Delphi with the Delphic Festivals and spoke at Palamas's funeral in 1943.
Antiquity · TragedianEuripidesΕυριπίδηςc. 480 BC – 406 BCEuripides (c. 480–406 BC), tragedian of Medea, Hippolytus, The Trojan Women and The Bacchae: his unloved career in Athens, eighteen surviving plays and his legacy.
Modern Greece · PoetKostis PalamasΚωστής Παλαμάς1859 – 1943Kostis Palamas (1859–1943) wrote the Olympic Hymn, The Twelve Lays of the Gypsy and The King's Flute, and was the voice of demotic Greek poetry for fifty years.
Modern Greece · Short-story writer and poetGeorgios VizyinosΓεώργιος Βιζυηνός1849 – 1896Georgios Vizyinos (Vizyenos, 1849–1896), the Thracian tailor's boy with a German doctorate who wrote My Mother's Sin and founded the modern Greek short story.
Antiquity · Historian and soldierXenophonΞενοφώνc. 430 BC – c. 354 BCXenophon of Athens, soldier, pupil of Socrates and historian: the Anabasis and the cry «Thalatta, thalatta!», the Hellenica, the Memorabilia and the Cyropaedia.
Antiquity · Biographer and essayistPlutarchΠλούταρχοςc. 46 – c. 120Plutarch of Chaeronea, priest of Delphi and author of the Parallel Lives and Moralia: Alexander, Caesar, Pericles, and the anecdotes Europe grew up on.
Antiquity · PhilosopherHeraclitusΗράκλειτοςc. 535 BC – c. 475 BCHeraclitus of Ephesus (Iraklitos), the philosopher of «everything flows»: the river you cannot step into twice, fire, the logos and the unity of opposites.
Antiquity · StatesmanPericlesΠερικλήςc. 495 BC – 429 BCPericles (Perikles), the statesman of Athens' golden age: radical democracy, pay for jurors, the Parthenon, and the Funeral Oration preserved by Thucydides.
Modern Greece · StatesmanEleftherios VenizelosΕλευθέριος Βενιζέλος1864 – 1936Eleftherios Venizelos, the Cretan statesman who doubled Greece in the Balkan Wars, signed Sèvres and Lausanne and gave his name to the Athens airport.
Modern Greece · First Governor of GreeceIoannis KapodistriasΙωάννης Καποδίστριας1776 – 1831Ioannis Kapodistrias (Capodistrias), Corfiot count, Russian foreign minister, friend of Swiss neutrality and first Governor of Greece, assassinated in Nafplio in 1831.
Modern Greece · PoetLorentzos MavilisΛορέντζος Μαβίλης1860 – 1912Lorentzos Mavilis, the sonnet master of Corfu: Lithi, Elia, Kallipateira, a scholar of Sanskrit and chess who defended demotic Greek in parliament and fell at Driskos in 1912.
Modern Greece · Novelist, short-story writerAndreas KarkavitsasΑνδρέας Καρκαβίτσας1865 – 1922Andreas Karkavitsas, army doctor and master of Greek naturalism: The Beggar, the sea tales Logia tis ploris, The Slender Maid and The Archaeologist.Modern Greece · Film and theatre directorMichael CacoyannisΜιχάλης Κακογιάννης1922 – 2011Michael Cacoyannis (Michalis Kakogiannis), director of Zorba the Greek, Stella, Electra and Iphigenia: three Oscars for Greek cinema and Euripides on film.
Modern Greece · ComposerVangelisΒαγγέλης Παπαθανασίου1943 – 2022Vangelis (Evangelos Papathanassiou), the self-taught Greek composer of Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner and 1492, from Aphrodite's Child to music for NASA.
Modern Greece · NovelistDido SotiriouΔιδώ Σωτηρίου1909 – 2004Dido Sotiriou, the Greek novelist of Farewell Anatolia (Ματωμένα χώματα, 1962), the story of a Greek peasant of Asia Minor before and during the Catastrophe of 1922.
Modern Greece · Playwright and lyricistIakovos KambanellisΙάκωβος Καμπανέλλης1922 – 2011Iakovos Kambanellis (Kampanellis), father of modern Greek theatre: The Courtyard of Miracles, Our Grand Circus, Mauthausen and the Song of Songs.
Modern Greece · Prime minister, reformerCharilaos TrikoupisΧαρίλαος Τρικούπης1832 – 1896Charilaos Trikoupis, seven times prime minister of Greece: the article Who Is to Blame?, railways, the Corinth Canal, the 1893 bankruptcy and the Rio–Antirrio bridge.Modern Greece · Novelist, essayistGiorgos TheotokasΓιώργος Θεοτοκάς1905 – 1966Giorgos Theotokas, voice of the Greek Generation of the Thirties: the manifesto Free Spirit (1929), the novels Argo and Leonis, essays and diaries.Modern Greece · NovelistPantelis PrevelakisΠαντελής Πρεβελάκης1909 – 1986Pantelis Prevelakis, the Cretan novelist of The Chronicle of a Town and The Sun of Death, and the closest friend and confidant of Nikos Kazantzakis.Modern Greece · PoetTasos LivaditisΤάσος Λειβαδίτης1922 – 1988Tasos Livaditis, the Athenian poet of exile and tenderness: Battle at the Edge of the Night, Violets for an Era, and the lyrics of Drapetsona for Theodorakis.
Modern Greece · MathematicianConstantin CarathéodoryΚωνσταντίνος Καραθεοδωρή1873 – 1950Constantin Carathéodory, the Greek mathematician of Göttingen and Munich: measure theory, calculus of variations, thermodynamics and a correspondence with Einstein.
Modern Greece · PainterKonstantinos ParthenisΚωνσταντίνος Παρθένης1878 – 1967Konstantinos Parthenis, the painter who brought modern art to Greece: luminous, weightless figures, Heracles, the Apotheosis of Athanasios Diakos, Corfu landscapes.Modern Greece · PainterYannis MoralisΓιάννης Μόραλης1916 – 2009Yannis Moralis, painter of the Greek 1930s generation: the Funerary Compositions, the geometric lovers and nudes, and the marble façade of the Athens Hilton.
Modern Greece · SculptorTakis (Panagiotis Vassilakis)Τάκις1925 – 2019Takis (Panagiotis Vassilakis), the Greek sculptor of magnetism, light and sound: the Signals on swaying rods, magnetic sculptures and the pool at La Défense.
Modern Greece · ConductorDimitri MitropoulosΔημήτρης Μητρόπουλος1896 – 1960Dimitri Mitropoulos, the Athenian conductor who led the Minneapolis Symphony and the New York Philharmonic, conducted from memory and died on the podium at La Scala.
Modern Greece · Stage actressMarika KotopouliΜαρίκα Κοτοπούλη1887 – 1954Marika Kotopouli (Μαρίκα Κοτοπούλη), the great Athenian stage actress of the early 20th century, Kyveli's rival, head of her own company and of the Rex theatre.
Modern Greece · Writer, art criticZacharias PapantoniouΖαχαρίας Παπαντωνίου1877 – 1940Zacharias Papantoniou, author of Ta Psila Vouna (The High Mountains, 1918), the first school reader in demotic Greek, art critic and director of the National Gallery.Modern Greece · ArchaeologistSpyridon MarinatosΣπυρίδων Μαρινάτος1901 – 1974Spyridon Marinatos, the archaeologist who linked the Thera eruption to Minoan Crete and dug up Akrotiri on Santorini, the Aegean Pompeii, with its frescoes.
Modern Greece · BenefactorEvangelos ZappasΕυάγγελος Ζάππας1800 – 1865Evangelos Zappas, the Epirote fighter of 1821 turned rich landowner in Romania, who funded the first modern Olympic revival and gave Athens the Zappeion.Modern Greece · Rock singer, songwriterPavlos SidiropoulosΠαύλος Σιδηρόπουλος1948 – 1990Pavlos Sidiropoulos, "the prince" of Greek rock, who proved rock could be sung in Greek: the album Flou with Spyridoula, En Lefko and Zorba the Freak.Modern Greece · Rebetiko composer, bouzoukiYannis PapaioannouΓιάννης Παπαϊωάννου1913 – 1972Yannis Papaioannou, the refugee from Kios in Asia Minor who became a master of rebetiko bouzouki and composer of Prin to Charama and Pente Ellines ston Adi.Modern Greece · ChemistLeonidas ZervasΛεωνίδας Ζέρβας1902 – 1980Leonidas Zervas, the Greek chemist of the Bergmann–Zervas method (1932) that made it possible to build peptides step by step: the Z in peptide chemistry.
Modern Greece · ArchaeologistGeorge MylonasΓεώργιος Μυλωνάς1898 – 1988George Mylonas, the Smyrna-born archaeologist of Mycenae and Eleusis: Grave Circle B, decades at Agamemnon's citadel, and the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Modern Greece · PainterAglaia PapaΑγλαΐα Παπά1904 – 1984Aglaia Papa, a Corfu-born painter taught by Parthenis, moved from geometric landscapes to abstraction. Describe her Batsi on Andros in Greek.
Antiquity · Choral poetAlcmanΑλκμάνAlcman composed choral songs for girls’ choruses in archaic Sparta: read his night fragment and describe a silent landscape in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage actressAmalia MoutousiΑμαλία ΜουτούσηAmalia Moutousi, Athens stage actress, played Medea at Epidaurus and Electra in the Oresteia: read her Greek words on acting, sound and translation.
Modern Greece · Choreographer · dancerAngeliki StellatouΑγγελική Στελλάτου1963Angeliki Stellatou co-founded Edafos Dance Theatre and choreographed Hadjidakis for the Greek National Opera: describe body movement in Greek.
Antiquity · Literary compilerAthenaeusΑθήναιος2nd c. ADAthenaeus wrote The Deipnosophists, a Greek banquet of quotations on food and poetry: read its fish list and write your own menu in Modern Greek.
Antiquity · Biographer · history of philosophyDiogenes LaertiusΔιογένης Λαέρτιος3rd c. ADDiogenes Laertius preserved philosophers’ lives and earlier texts: explore his ten-book collection and practise naming who speaks in a Greek quotation.
Modern Greece · Historian · ByzantinistEleni Glykatzi-ArvelerΕλένη Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ1926 – 2026Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler studied Byzantine seas, institutions and ideas: explore her books and use Greek to ask historical questions and examine evidence.
Modern Greece · AutobiographerElisavet Moutzan-MartinengouΕλισάβετ Μουτζάν-Μαρτινέγκου1801 – 1832Elisavet Moutzan-Martinengou of Zakynthos wrote an early Greek autobiography by a woman: read her voice and practise μπορούσα (I could) in Greek.
Antiquity · Comic poetEpicharmusΕπίχαρμοςc. 540 BC – c. 460 BCEpicharmus wrote early Greek comedy in the Doric dialect of Syracuse: explore his fragments and practise Greek statements, questions and reported speech.
Modern Greece · Novelist · poetErsi SotiropoulouΈρση Σωτηροπούλου1953Ersi Sotiropoulou explores cities, desire and the making of a poet in Greek fiction: discover her books and practise separating evidence from possibility.
Modern Greece · Novelist; short-story writerGalateia SarantiΓαλάτεια Σαράντη1920 – 2009Galateia Saranti, a novelist from Patras, wrote quiet, atmospheric prose and in 1997 became the first woman elected to the Academy of Athens.
Modern Greece · Film director · screenwriterYorgos LanthimosΓιώργος Λάνθιμος1973Yorgos Lanthimos makes familiar rules strange: explore Greek and English films, then practise describing a scene in Greek before interpreting its meaning.
Modern Greece · Speculative novelist and storytellerIoanna BourazopoulouΙωάννα Μπουραζοπούλου1968Ioanna Bourazopoulou turns invented worlds into questions about power and belief: explore her Greek fiction and practise conditions and consequences.
Modern Greece · Actress · theatre managerKakia AnalytiΚάκια Αναλυτή1934 – 2002Kakia Analyti, Piraeus-born actress, ran the Analyti Theatre in Athens for three decades: follow her ERT recordings and report a stage line in Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage and TV actorKatia DandoulakiΚάτια Δανδουλάκη1948Katia Dandoulaki, stage and TV actor from Thessaloniki, played heroines of Kazantzakis and Myrivilis on ERT. Practise reported speech in Greek.
Antiquity · Bronze sculptorLysipposΛύσιπποςLysippos of Sicyon, bronze sculptor of Alexander the Great, made slender athletes like the Apoxyomenos: use it to practise πριν and μετά in Greek.
Modern Greece · Actress · acting teacherMary AroniΜαίρη Αρώνηc. 1914 – 1992Mary Aroni, National Theatre actress: Aristophanes’ Lysistrata in Modern Greek, Shaw and Chekhov on the Athens stage, and decades teaching young actors.
Modern Greece · NovelistMargarita KarapanouΜαργαρίτα Καραπάνου1946 – 2008Margarita Karapanou unsettles familiar stories through distinctive narrators: explore her Greek fiction, short sentences and viewpoint with a B2 reading.
Modern Greece · Poet, playwright and translatorMaria LainaΜαρία Λαϊνά1947 – 2023Maria Laina shaped Greek poetry through precise images and patient word choices: explore her work, then compare an adjective’s sound and figurative meaning.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterMaria PapageorgiouΜαρία ΠαπαγεωργίουMaria Papageorgiou, a singer and songwriter from Grevena, recorded ten Theodorakis songs on Αλληλογραφία. Compare two versions of a song in Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · essayistMaro VamvounakiΜάρω Βαμβουνάκη1948Maro Vamvounaki, a novelist born in Chania in 1948, writes about love, loneliness and inner life. Practise Greek verbs of feeling with her book questions.
Modern Greece · Poet; translatorMatsi HatzilazarouΜάτση Χατζηλαζάρου1914 – 1987Matsi Hatzilazarou, poet from Thessaloniki, debuted in 1944 with Μάης, Ιούνης και Νοέμβρης and wrote surrealist love poems in Greek and in French.
Modern Greece · Singer · composerMichalis HatzigiannisΜιχάλης Χατζηγιάννης1978Michalis Hatzigiannis, the Cypriot singer and composer of Παράξενη γιορτή and Eurovision 1998: compare two of his recordings and describe them in Greek.
Modern Greece · Composer and music teacherNikolaos MantzarosΝικόλαος Μάντζαρος1795 – 1872Nikolaos Mantzaros set Solomos’s Hymn to Liberty, today the Greek anthem, and taught music free in Corfu: practise ο ένας… ο άλλος… in Greek.
Modern Greece · Film directorNikos PanagiotopoulosΝίκος Παναγιωτόπουλος1941 – 2016Nikos Panagiotopoulos, the Greek director whose The Idlers of the Fertile Valley won Locarno's Golden Leopard: retell his film scenes in Greek.
Modern Greece · Painter · sculptorOpy ZouniΌπυ Ζούνη1941 – 2008Opy Zouni, the Cairo-born Greek painter and sculptor of geometric abstraction: explore her White Column and describe height, depth and light in Greek.
Antiquity · Historian · political inquiryPolybiusΠολύβιοςc. 200 BC – c. 118 BCPolybius investigates Rome’s rise and historical causes: explore a situated Greek account and practise separating “after this” from “because of this”.
Modern Greece · Novelist · historical fictionRea GalanakiΡέα Γαλανάκη1947Rea Galanaki writes Greek novels about history, memory and divided identities: explore her Cretan worlds and practise retelling a return in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · playwrightRina KatselliΡήνα Κατσελλή1938 – 2021Rina Katselli, Greek-Cypriot novelist and playwright of Kyrenia: discover her 1974 refugee diary and learn to say where you were born and where you live.
Modern Greece · Poet · translatorRita Boumi-PapaΡίτα Μπούμη-Παπά1906 – 1984Rita Boumi-Papa, poet and translator from Syros, gave voice to executed women of the Resistance; sort her titles and practise Greek ordinals at B2.
Modern Greece · Stage actress · director · translatorSofia FilippidouΣοφία ΦιλιππίδουSofia Filippidou, stage actress and director from Thessaloniki: Winnie in her own Greek translation of Beckett’s Happy Days, founder of a tiny Athens theatre.
Antiquity · Lyric poetStesichorusΣτησίχοροςc. 630 BC – c. 555 BCStesichorus turned epic myths into long Greek lyric songs: read his Helen palinode and practise reported speech with λέει ότι and όμως in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · short-story writerTatiana Gritsi-MilliexΤατιάνα Γκρίτση-Μιλλιέξ1920 – 2005Tatiana Gritsi-Milliex wrote Athenian prose of memory and resistance; start from her first book, Thiseio Square (1947), and describe a route in Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · journalistVassilis AlexakisΒασίλης Αλεξάκης1943 – 2021Vassilis Alexakis wrote novels in Greek and French, from Talgo to The Mother Tongue: use his words to describe your own mother tongue in Greek.
Antiquity · Philosopher · Stoic founderZeno of CitiumΖήνων ο Κιτιεύςc. 334–333 BC – c. 262–261 BCZeno of Citium founded the Stoic school in Athens: explore its portico name, lost books and a transmitted saying that makes Greek listening practical.
Modern Greece · Film and stage actressZoe LaskariΖωή Λάσκαρηc. 1942 – 2017Zoe Laskari, Finos Film star of Ο Κατήφορος and Stefania who later chose the stage: her Greek films help learners practise everyday requests.
Modern Greece · Novelist · short-story writerZyranna ZateliΖυράννα Ζατέλη1951Zyranna Zateli writes Greek fiction where families, dreams and shadows meet: explore her books and practise describing what you see, remember and imagine.
Modern Greece · Novelist and short-story writerAlexandros PapadiamantisΑλέξανδρος Παπαδιαμάντης1851 – 1911Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851–1911), the 'saint of Greek letters' from Skiathos, wrote Η Φόνισσα (The Murderess) and some 170 stories of island life.
Antiquity · Lyric poetSapphoΣαπφώc. 630 BC – c. 570 BCSappho (Σαπφώ, c. 630–570 BC), the lyric poet of Lesbos, wrote songs of love and longing in Aeolic Greek; a few poems and hundreds of fragments survive.
Antiquity · TragedianAeschylusΑισχύλοςc. 525 BC – 456 BCAeschylus (Αισχύλος, c. 525–456 BC), the father of Greek tragedy, fought at Marathon and wrote the Oresteia, the Persians and Prometheus Bound.
Antiquity · HistorianHerodotusΗρόδοτοςc. 484 BC – c. 425 BCHerodotus (Ηρόδοτος, c. 484–425 BC), the 'father of history', wrote the Histories: the Persian Wars, Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and his travels in Egypt.
Renaissance · Poet (Cretan Renaissance)Vitsentzos KornarosΒιτσέντζος Κορνάρος1553 – 1613 or 1614Vitsentzos Kornaros (1553–c. 1614) wrote Erotokritos, the 10,000-verse Cretan romance of Erotokritos and Aretousa that Cretans still sing today.
Antiquity · PhilosopherSocratesΣωκράτηςc. 470 BC – 399 BCSocrates (Sokratis) of Athens, the philosopher who wrote nothing: the method of questions, the Delphic oracle, the trial of 399 BC and the cup of hemlock.
Antiquity · PhilosopherEpicurusΕπίκουρος341 BC – 270 BCEpicurus (Epikouros), founder of the Garden in Athens: pleasure as freedom from pain and fear, atoms, friendship, the Letter to Menoeceus, and death is nothing to us.
Antiquity · Orator and statesmanDemosthenesΔημοσθένης384 BC – 322 BCDemosthenes, the greatest orator of Athens: the stammer cured with pebbles, the Philippics against Philip of Macedon, On the Crown, and poison on Poros.
Renaissance · HymnographerRomanos the MelodistΡωμανός ο Μελωδόςc. 490 – c. 556Romanos the Melodist, the Byzantine hymnographer of the kontakion and of the Christmas hymn Today the Virgin, sung in Orthodox churches for 1,500 years.
Modern Greece · General of 1821, memoiristIoannis MakriyannisΙωάννης Μακρυγιάννης1797 – 1864Ioannis Makriyannis (Makrygiannis), general of 1821 who learned to write at 32 to compose his Memoirs, the monument of demotic Greek prose.
Modern Greece · PoetNapoleon LapathiotisΝαπολέων Λαπαθιώτης1888 – 1944Napoleon Lapathiotis, the decadent poet of 1920s Athens: musical, melancholy lyrics, the nonsense poem Βάο, γάο, ντάο, an openly lived life and a death in the Occupation.
Modern Greece · NovelistKonstantinos TheotokisΚωνσταντίνος Θεοτόκης1872 – 1923Konstantinos Theotokis, the Corfiot count turned socialist who wrote the first Greek social novels: Honour and Money, The Convict, Slaves in Their Chains.
Modern Greece · Film directorTheo AngelopoulosΘόδωρος Αγγελόπουλος1935 – 2012Theo Angelopoulos, Greek director of the long take and the mist: The Travelling Players, Landscape in the Mist, Ulysses' Gaze and Eternity and a Day (Palme d'Or).
Modern Greece · Poet, satiristKostas VarnalisΚώστας Βάρναλης1884 – 1974Kostas Varnalis, Greece's great Marxist poet and satirist: To fos pou kaiei, Sklavoi poliorkimenoi, The True Apology of Socrates, and the song Oi Moiraioi set by Theodorakis.
Modern Greece · Theatre directorKarolos KounΚάρολος Κουν1908 – 1987Karolos Koun, founder of the Art Theatre (Theatro Technis, 1942): the scandalous Birds of 1959, the first Greek Beckett and Pinter, and a school of actors.
Antiquity · MathematicianEuclidΕυκλείδηςc. 325 BC – c. 265 BCEuclid of Alexandria, author of the Elements: thirteen books of definitions, postulates and proofs that taught the world geometry for more than 2,000 years.
Modern Greece · Poet, novelistKonstantinos ChatzopoulosΚωνσταντίνος Χατζόπουλος1868 – 1920Konstantinos Chatzopoulos (Petros Vasilikos), symbolist poet and novelist of Autumn and The Tower of Akropotamos, demoticist and early Greek socialist.Modern Greece · NovelistM. KaragatsisΜ. Καραγάτσης1908 – 1960M. Karagatsis (Dimitrios Rodopoulos), the novelist of Colonel Liapkin, Jungerman, The Great Chimera and To 10: sensual, ironic stories of modern Greece.Modern Greece · Novelist, playwrightAngelos TerzakisΆγγελος Τερζάκης1907 – 1979Angelos Terzakis, novelist and playwright of the Generation of the '30s: Princess Isabeau, The Violet City, Without God, and decades at the National Theatre.Modern Greece · PoetManolis AnagnostakisΜανόλης Αναγνωστάκης1925 – 2005Manolis Anagnostakis, the Thessaloniki poet and doctor of the postwar generation, sentenced to death in the Civil War, author of Epoches and The Target.Modern Greece · NovelistKostas TaktsisΚώστας Ταχτσής1927 – 1988Kostas Taktsis (Ταχτσής), author of The Third Wedding (Το τρίτο στεφάνι, 1962), the novel of two Athenian women's voices through war, occupation and civil war.
Modern Greece · Scholar, EnlightenmentEvgenios VoulgarisΕυγένιος Βούλγαρις1716 – 1806Evgenios Voulgaris, scholar of the Greek Enlightenment from Corfu: head of the Athonite Academy, author of I Logiki (1766), and archbishop under Catherine the Great.
Modern Greece · Artist (Arte Povera)Jannis KounellisΓιάννης Κουνέλλης1936 – 2017Jannis Kounellis, the Piraeus-born artist of Arte Povera in Rome, who showed twelve live horses in a gallery in 1969 and made art from fire, coal and steel.Modern Greece · SculptorChryssa (Vardea)Χρύσα1933 – 2013Chryssa (Vardea), the Greek-American sculptor who turned the neon signs of Times Square into art, creator of The Gates to Times Square (1964–66).
Modern Greece · ComposerNikos SkalkottasΝίκος Σκαλκώτας1904 – 1949Nikos Skalkottas, the Greek composer who studied with Schoenberg in Berlin and wrote the 36 Greek Dances while playing at the back of an Athens orchestra.
Modern Greece · ComposerManolis KalomirisΜανώλης Καλομοίρης1883 – 1962Manolis Kalomiris, founder of the Greek National School of music: the opera The Master Builder after Kazantzakis, the Symphony of Levendia, two conservatories.
Modern Greece · Journalist, feministKallirroi ParrenΚαλλιρρόη Παρρέν1861 – 1940Kallirroi Parren, the Cretan journalist who founded the Ladies' Newspaper in 1887 and the Lyceum of Greek Women, pioneer of Greek feminism and women's education.Modern Greece · Poet, actressKaterina GogouΚατερίνα Γώγου1940 – 1993Katerina Gogou, child star of Finos Film comedies turned anarchist poet of Exarchia: Three Clicks Left (1978), Idionymo, The Wooden Overcoat, Absent.
Modern Greece · FolkloristNikolaos PolitisΝικόλαος Πολίτης1852 – 1921Nikolaos Politis, founder of Greek folklore studies, who named the field laografia and collected the proverbs, legends and folk songs of the Greek people.Modern Greece · ArchitectDimitris PikionisΔημήτρης Πικιώνης1887 – 1968Dimitris Pikionis, the architect of the stone paths up to the Acropolis and Philopappou Hill (1954–57), and a poet of Greek landscape and folk building.
Modern Greece · ComposerThanos MikroutsikosΘάνος Μικρούτσικος1947 – 2019Thanos Mikroutsikos (Μικρούτσικος), composer of political songs on Ritsos, of Kavvadias' Southern Cross and Mitropanos' Rosa; Greek culture minister.Modern Greece · Playwright, journalistSpyros MelasΣπύρος Μελάς1882 – 1966Spyros Melas, journalist and playwright: The Son of the Shadow, the comedy Daddy Goes to School, and lively biographies of 1821 heroes like Kolokotronis.
Modern Greece · NovelistAlkyoni PapadakiΑλκυόνη ΠαπαδάκηAlkyoni Papadaki, a novelist from near Chania in Crete, wrote lyrical bestsellers such as The Colour of the Moon. Learn Greek through her titles and words.
Modern Greece · Theatre historian · translation scholarAnna TabakiΆννα ΤαμπάκηAnna Tabaki traces how Molière, Enlightenment ideas and translators shaped Modern Greek theatre; use her work to credit author, translator and director.
Modern Greece · ChoreographerAndonis FoniadakisΑντώνης Φωνιαδάκης1971Andonis Foniadakis, a choreographer from Ierapetra in Crete, founded Apotosoma in Lyon, led the Greek National Opera Ballet and reworked Cretan dance.
Modern Greece · Singer-songwriter · painterArletaΑρλέτα1945 – 2017Arleta (1945–2017), the Athens singer-songwriter with a guitar of the 1960s Greek New Wave: her life, her boîte songs and how to qualify a judgement in Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage and screen actressBetty ArvanitiΜπέττυ Αρβανίτη1939Betty Arvaniti, Athenian actress of 1960s Greek cinema who in 1987 co-founded the Kefallinias Street Theatre: her stage career and her own words.
Modern Greece · Island folk singerEleni LegakiΕλένη Λεγάκη1956Eleni Legaki, born in 1956, has sung the island songs of the Aegean since she was thirteen. Learn Greek place words such as νησί, χωριό and τόπος.
Modern Greece · Singer · rebetiko and laïkoFoteini VelesiotouΦωτεινή Βελεσιώτου1958Foteini Velesiotou taught primary school for 24 years and sang rebetika at weekends until the 2008 song Μέλισσες (Bees) made her a nationwide voice.
Modern Greece · Choreographer · dancerIoannis MandafounisΙωάννης Μανταφούνης1981Ioannis Mandafounis, the Athens-born improvisation choreographer who now leads the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company: learn Greek verbs for leading and following.
Modern Greece · Poet · translator · editorKaterina IliopoulouΚατερίνα Ηλιοπούλου1967Katerina Iliopoulou, Athens poet, translator and editor of the journal FRMK: read her poem Cape Tainaron and learn χώμα, γη and έδαφος.
Modern Greece · Stage actressKyveliΚυβέλη1888 – 1978Kyveli, Greek stage actress for some 65 years: Ibsen’s Nora, Xenopoulos’s Countess Valerena, and real programmes for learning Greek theatre words.
Modern Greece · Singer · lyricistLizeta KalimeriΛιζέτα Καλημέρη1969Lizeta Kalimeri, a Thessaloniki singer since the early 1990s, has recorded songs by Kazantzis, Chaniotis and Peridis: learn to read Greek album credits.
Antiquity · Ancient novelistLongusΛόγγοςLongus wrote Daphnis and Chloe, an ancient Greek novel of two foundlings on Lesbos: follow its seasons and practise η άνοιξη and το καλοκαίρι.
Modern Greece · SingerLoukas GiorkasΛούκας ΓιώρκαςLoukas Giorkas, Cypriot-born winner of Greece’s first X Factor, sang Watch My Dance at Eurovision 2011; use his words to present a goal in Greek.
Modern Greece · Painter and printmakerLoukia MaggiorouΛουκία Μαγγιώρου1914 – 2008Loukia Maggiorou, an Athenian painter and printmaker, cut woodcuts in the Occupation and later painted. Practise στη and στην with her titles.
Antiquity · Speechwriter and oratorLysiasΛυσίαςc. 445 BC – c. 380 BCLysias wrote Athenian court speeches for others to deliver; read his grain-dealers case and practise Greek words for buying, selling and price.
Modern Greece · SingerMarika PapagikaΜαρίκα Παπαγκίκα1890 – 1943Marika Papagika, a singer from Kos, recorded over 200 Greek songs in New York between 1918 and 1929, including her celebrated Smyrneiko minore.
Modern Greece · Tenor · crossover singerMario FrangoulisΜάριος Φραγκούλης1966Mario Frangoulis, Greek tenor of Les Misérables, Axion Esti and Erotokritos: explore his Greek albums and describe voice, mood and arrangement in Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · composer · music educatorMariza KochΜαρίζα Κωχ1944Mariza Koch, Greece’s Eurovision 1976 singer, gave traditional Greek songs a new sound and built a songbook for children learning Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterMatoula ZamaniΜατούλα Ζαμάνη1981Matoula Zamani, Greek singer-songwriter of Vlach roots, sings Thanasis Papakonstantinou and her own songs. Learn to explain a word in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet · translatorMelissanthiΜελισσάνθη1907 – 1990Melissanthi, the Athenian poet of Φωνές εντόμου and Το φράγμα της σιωπής, wrote religious and existential verse. Explore her symbolic titles in Greek.
Antiquity · Bronze sculptorMyronΜύρωνMyron cast the Discobolus in bronze around 450 BC: meet him through Roman copies and practise Greek verbs for bending and turning the body.
Modern Greece · Painter and tapestry artistNiki KanaginiΝίκη Καναγκίνη1933 – 2008Niki Kanagini (1933–2008) turned tapestry, painting and an unreadable handwriting into Greek art about women and home: read her labels in Greek.
Modern Greece · Laïko singerNikos VertisΝίκος Βέρτης1976Nikos Vertis, born in the Netherlands in 1976, became a leading voice of modern laïko song: compare two versions of his Τι να πω in Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage actress · translatorNonika GalineaΝόνικα Γαληνέα1938 – 2023Nonika Galinea, Greek stage actress and translator from Koun’s Art Theatre to the Ilisia: report her words and describe a stage action in C1 Greek.
Antiquity · Poet · EpigrammatistNossisΝοσσίςNossis of Locri wrote Greek epigrams on women’s gifts, portraits and Sappho: read her robe dedication and practise who gives what to whom in Greek.
Modern Greece · RapperPavlos FyssasΠαύλος Φύσσας1979 – 2013Pavlos Fyssas (Killah P), rapper from Perama killed in 2013: discover his Greek hip-hop titles and the ironic Modern Greek phrase σιγά μην.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterPenny BaltatziΠέννυ ΜπαλτατζήPenny Baltatzi, the Athens singer and songwriter behind Penny & The Swingin' Cats: hear Greek retro swing and learn to describe a sound in Greek.
Antiquity · PhilosopherPlotinusΠλωτίνοςc. AD 204–205 – 270Plotinus explored beauty, soul and intellect in Greek: meet the Enneads, follow Porphyry’s editing and practise reading an argument beyond a slogan.
Modern Greece · ChoreographerSofia MavraganiΣοφία Μαυραγάνη1978Sofia Mavragani, the Athens choreographer of Speechless and Horse Me, mixes dance, voice and theatre. Use her work to describe gestures and power in Greek.
Modern Greece · Theatre and opera directorSpyros EvangelatosΣπύρος Ευαγγελάτος1940 – 2017Spyros Evangelatos, Greek theatre and opera director, founded the Amphi-Theatre, revived Cretan and Ionian plays and became President of the Academy of Athens.
Antiquity · AnthologistStobaeusΙωάννης ΣτοβαίοςStobaeus compiled a vast Greek anthology that saved lost poems and plays: read a real chapter heading and tell the quoted author from the compiler.
Antiquity · Elegiac poetTyrtaeusΤυρταίος7th c. BCTyrtaeus, elegiac poet of 7th-century BC Sparta: read his call to take heart in its historical context and practise singular and plural commands in Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterVictor VernicosΒίκτωρ Βερνίκος2006Victor Vernicos wrote What They Say at 14 and sang it for Greece at Eurovision 2023: use his Greek interviews to describe a song and a performance.
Modern Greece · Poet · prose writerVictoria TheodorouΒικτωρία Θεοδώρουc. 1925 – 2019Victoria Theodorou, Cretan poet and civil-war exile, edited Women’s Camps (1975), the notebooks of women held on Chios, Trikeri and Makronisos.
Modern Greece · Hellenist and scholarJacqueline de RomillyΖακλίν ντε Ρομιγί1913 – 2010Jacqueline de Romilly, French Hellenist and Greek citizen, wrote on Thucydides and tragedy: use λόγος, διάλογος and δημοκρατία in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist, critic and satiristEmmanouil RoidisΕμμανουήλ Ροΐδης1836 – 1904Emmanouil Roidis (1836–1904), the satirist from Syros, wrote Η Πάπισσα Ιωάννα (Pope Joan), the novel the Church condemned, and sharp essays on Greek life.
Modern Greece · PoetAndreas KalvosΑνδρέας Κάλβος1792 – 1869Andreas Kalvos (1792–1869), poet of Zakynthos, wrote twenty odes to the Greek War of Independence, including the line 'freedom needs virtue and daring'.
Antiquity · Philosopher and prose writerPlatoΠλάτωνc. 427 BC – c. 347 BCPlato (Πλάτων, c. 427–347 BC), pupil of Socrates and founder of the Academy, wrote the dialogues: the Republic, the Symposium, the Apology and the myth of the cave.
Antiquity · Epic and didactic poetHesiodΗσίοδοςc. 750–650 BCHesiod (Ησίοδος, c. 700 BC), the farmer-poet of Boeotia, wrote the Theogony, the birth of the gods, and Works and Days, with Pandora and the five ages of man.
Modern Greece · Revolutionary writer and poetRigas FeraiosΡήγας Βελεστινλήςc. 1757 – 1798Rigas Feraios, or Velestinlis (c. 1757–1798), wrote the war hymn Θούριος, a Balkan constitution and the great Χάρτα map, and died for Greek freedom in Belgrade.
Antiquity · PhilosopherAristotleΑριστοτέλης384 BC – 322 BCAristotle (Aristotelis) of Stagira, pupil of Plato, tutor of Alexander and founder of the Lyceum: logic, ethics, politics, poetics and the sciences of nature.
Antiquity · HistorianThucydidesΘουκυδίδηςc. 460 BC – c. 400 BCThucydides (Thoukydidis), Athenian general and historian of the Peloponnesian War: the Funeral Oration, the plague, the Melian Dialogue, a possession for all time.
Antiquity · Lyric poetPindarΠίνδαροςc. 518 BC – c. 438 BCPindar (Pindaros) of Thebes, the greatest Greek choral poet: the Olympian and Pythian victory odes, «water is best», «man is the dream of a shadow».
Renaissance · Historian, Byzantine princessAnna KomneneΆννα Κομνηνή1083 – c. 1153Anna Komnene (Comnena), Byzantine princess and the first woman historian: the Alexiad, her history of Alexios I and the First Crusade seen from Constantinople.
Renaissance · Archbishop and preacherJohn ChrysostomΙωάννης ο Χρυσόστομοςc. 347 – 407John Chrysostom, golden-mouthed preacher of Antioch and Archbishop of Constantinople: the Divine Liturgy, the Easter homily, hundreds of sermons, exile and death in 407.
Renaissance · Byzantine historianProcopiusΠροκόπιοςc. 500 – c. 565Procopius of Caesarea, historian of Justinian's wars and of Hagia Sophia, and author of the Secret History on Theodora and the «demon emperor».
Modern Greece · Scholar of the Greek EnlightenmentAdamantios KoraisΑδαμάντιος Κοραής1748 – 1833Adamantios Korais (Coray), doctor and scholar in Paris, leader of the Greek Enlightenment, editor of the ancients and father of the Greek language debate.
Modern Greece · Linguist, demoticistYannis PsycharisΓιάννης Ψυχάρης1854 – 1929Yannis Psycharis (Jean Psichari), the Paris professor whose My Journey (1888) launched the demotic movement and the fight over which Greek Greeks should write.
Modern Greece · Surrealist poet and painterNikos EngonopoulosΝίκος Εγγονόπουλος1907 – 1985Nikos Engonopoulos, Greek surrealist poet and painter: Do Not Speak to the Driver (1938), the Occupation poem Bolivar (1944), and paintings of faceless figures.
Antiquity · SatiristLucian of SamosataΛουκιανόςc. 125 – after 180Lucian of Samosata (Loukianos), the Syrian who wrote the wittiest Greek: A True Story, the first voyage to the Moon, and the Dialogues of the Dead.
Antiquity · Lawgiver and poetSolonΣόλωνc. 630 BC – c. 560 BCSolon of Athens, lawgiver, poet and one of the Seven Sages: the seisachtheia that freed the debt-slaves, the laws on wooden tablets, and the meeting with Croesus.
Modern Greece · SatiristAndreas LaskaratosΑνδρέας Λασκαράτος1811 – 1901Andreas Laskaratos, the Kefalonian satirist excommunicated for The Mysteries of Kefalonia (1856), author of Behold the Man and enemy of hypocrisy in church and state.Modern Greece · NovelistKosmas PolitisΚοσμάς Πολίτης1888 – 1974Kosmas Politis (born Paris Taveloudis), the modernist novelist of Lemonodasos, Eroica and Stou Chatzifrangou, his late elegy for the lost Smyrna of his youth.Modern Greece · NovelistStratis TsirkasΣτρατής Τσίρκας1911 – 1980Stratis Tsirkas, the Cairo-born Greek novelist of the trilogy Drifting Cities, set in wartime Jerusalem, Cairo and Alexandria, and a pioneering reader of Cavafy.
Modern Greece · Surrealist poet, psychoanalystAndreas EmbirikosΑνδρέας Εμπειρίκος1901 – 1975Andreas Embirikos, the first Greek surrealist and first Greek psychoanalyst: Blast Furnace (1935), Inland, and the vast erotic novel The Great Eastern.Modern Greece · PoetMiltos SachtourisΜίλτος Σαχτούρης1919 – 2005Miltos Sachtouris, the Athenian poet of nightmares and wounded angels: The Forgotten Woman, With Face to the Wall, Stigmata, Ectoplasms.
Modern Greece · NovelistMelpo AxiotiΜέλπω Αξιώτη1905 – 1973Melpo Axioti, the modernist novelist of Difficult Nights and Kadmo: a Mykonos childhood, the Resistance, exile in Paris and East Berlin, and a new Greek prose.Modern Greece · Novelist, poetGiannis SkarimbasΓιάννης Σκαρίμπας1893 – 1984Giannis Skarimbas, the ironic eccentric of Chalkida: Mariambas, Figaro's Solo, the poems of Oulaloum, Karagiozis plays and absurd, playful Greek prose.
Modern Greece · Philosopher, economist, psychoanalystCornelius CastoriadisΚορνήλιος Καστοριάδης1922 – 1997Cornelius Castoriadis, Greek-French philosopher of autonomy: Socialisme ou Barbarie, The Imaginary Institution of Society, and ancient Athens as a germ of democracy.
Modern Greece · Composer, architectIannis XenakisΙάννης Ξενάκης1922 – 2001Iannis Xenakis, the Resistance fighter turned composer and architect: Le Corbusier's partner on the Philips Pavilion and inventor of stochastic music with Metastaseis.Modern Greece · Prose writerGiorgos IoannouΓιώργος Ιωάννου1927 – 1985Giorgos Ioannou (Γιώργος Ιωάννου), prose writer of Thessaloniki: For a Sense of Honour, The Sarcophagus, Our Own Blood, The Capital of the Refugees.Modern Greece · Novelist, playwrightPavlos MatesisΠαύλος Μάτεσις1933 – 2013Pavlos Matesis, Greek playwright and novelist, author of The Daughter (I Mitera tou Skylou, 1990), the Occupation and its aftermath told by a girl who becomes an actress.
Modern Greece · LinguistManolis TriantafyllidisΜανόλης Τριανταφυλλίδης1883 – 1959Manolis Triantafyllidis, the linguist whose Modern Greek Grammar (1941) shaped the Greek of schools, and whose bequest gave Greeks the Triantafyllidis dictionary.
Modern Greece · HistorianKonstantinos PaparrigopoulosΚωνσταντίνος Παπαρρηγόπουλος1815 – 1891Konstantinos Paparrigopoulos, the national historian of Greece, whose History of the Greek Nation joined antiquity, Byzantium and modern Greece into one story.Modern Greece · Engraver, printmakerVaso KatrakiΒάσω Κατράκη1914 – 1988Vaso Katraki, the Greek engraver from Aitoliko whose woodcuts and stone engravings of mothers, fighters and exiles carry the memory of a century of struggle.Modern Greece · Philosopher, jurist, PresidentKonstantinos TsatsosΚωνσταντίνος Τσάτσος1899 – 1987Konstantinos Tsatsos, philosopher of law and essayist, Seferis's partner in the 1938–39 dialogue on poetry, and President of the Hellenic Republic 1975–1980.Modern Greece · PhilosopherIoannis TheodorakopoulosΙωάννης Θεοδωρακόπουλος1900 – 1981Ioannis Theodorakopoulos (Θεοδωρακόπουλος), Plato scholar of the Heidelberg generation, author of Introduction to Plato, professor and member of the Academy of Athens.
Modern Greece · Short-story writer · teacherAlexandra PapadopoulouΑλεξάνδρα Παπαδοπούλου1867 – 1906Alexandra Papadopoulou, a teacher from Constantinople, was the first Greek woman to write short stories systematically. Read her story The Grandmother.
Modern Greece · Folklorist · anthropologistAlki Kyriakidou-NestorosΆλκη Κυριακίδου-Νέστορος1935 – 1988Alki Kyriakidou-Nestoros, Thessaloniki folklorist of customs, memory and oral history: read about her Twelve Months and ask when a Greek custom happens.
Modern Greece · Actor · stage directorAnna KokkinouΆννα ΚοκκίνουAnna Kokkinou, Cairo-born actor and director, created Athens’ Sfendoni theatre: hear her Greek readings and mark pause and stress in your sentences.
Modern Greece · Stage and film actressAntigoni ValakouΑντιγόνη Βαλάκου1930 – 2013Antigoni Valakou played Electra, Cassandra and Medea on the Greek stage for six decades; read a National Theatre cast list and ask in Greek who plays whom.
Antiquity · PainterApellesΑπελλήςApelles, the most praised painter of ancient Greece, survives only in words: read Lucian on his lost Calumny and practise φαίνεται and νομίζω in Greek.
Antiquity · Grammarian and editorAristophanes of ByzantiumΑριστοφάνης ο Βυζάντιοςc. 257 BC – c. 180 BCAristophanes of Byzantium headed the Library of Alexandria and edited Greek poetry: see how accent signs linked to him became today’s Greek τόνος.
Modern Greece · Novelist; linguistDimitra KolliakouΔήμητρα Κολλιάκου1968Dimitra Kolliakou, an Athens-born novelist and linguist living in Paris, won the 2019 Greek State Prize with her story cycle An Alphabet Primer of Insects.
Modern Greece · Theatre directorDimitris RontirisΔημήτρης Ροντήρης1899 – 1981Dimitris Rontiris staged Electra at Epidaurus in 1938 and founded the Piraikon Theatre: learn how he shaped Greek tragedy and its chorus.
Modern Greece · Singer · songwriterEleni VitaliΕλένη Βιτάλη1954Eleni Vitali took the songs of the Greek panigyri into laïko and art song: follow her spoken memories and the songs that answer them in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist · educatorElli AlexiouΈλλη Αλεξίου1894 – 1988Elli Alexiou, Cretan teacher and novelist, turned a poor Heraklion girls’ school into fiction: read about her classroom and narrate a school day in Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · composerGiorgos AlkaiosΓιώργος Αλκαίος1971Giorgos Alkaios, Greek laïko-pop singer and composer of the Greek-language Eurovision 2010 entry OPA: explore the learned phrases in his album titles.
Antiquity · Orator and educatorIsocratesΙσοκράτης436 BC – 338 BCIsocrates, the Athenian orator who feared public speaking, ran a famous school; read his line on Greeks and education and practise reasoned advice.
Modern Greece · Stage and screen actorKaryofyllia KarabetiΚαρυοφυλλιά Καραμπέτη1958Karyofyllia Karabeti played Medea for the National Theatre and Hadoula in the film The Murderess. Compare an actor and her roles in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Pop singerKostas MartakisΚώστας Μαρτάκης1984Kostas Martakis, Greek pop singer from Dream Show, was twice runner-up in Greece’s Eurovision selection: learn to discuss ambition and competition in Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage director · actorLefteris VogiatzisΛευτέρης Βογιατζής1944 – 2013Lefteris Vogiatzis, actor and director of Athens' Kykladon Street theatre: read his Greek production credits and report his words in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Choreographer · dancerLenio KakleaΛενιώ Κακλέα1985Lenio Kaklea, an Athens-born choreographer working in Paris, turns everyday habits, rituals and gestures into dance. Describe one gesture precisely in Greek.
Modern Greece · Novelist; journalistLilika NakouΛιλίκα Νάκου1904 – 1989Lilika Nakou, novelist and journalist of Greece's 1930s generation, wrote about women, children and famine, and gave Greece the comic novel Madame Doremi.
Modern Greece · Novelist · short-story writerMaria MitsoraΜαρία Μήτσορα1946Maria Mitsora, Athenian author of Σκόρπια δύναμη and Ο ήλιος δύω, bends Modern Greek in experimental prose. Follow her εγώ and εσύ in Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · actress · directorMartha FrintzilaΜάρθα Φριντζήλα1972Martha Frintzila, singer, actress and director from Elefsina, joins Greek song and ancient tragedy: explore her Medea and read her words on theatre.
Modern Greece · Actress · musical starMartha KaragianniΜάρθα Καραγιάννη1939 – 2022Martha Karagianni, dancing star of the 1960s Finos Film musicals: explore her films and study requests, turn-taking and tone in Greek comic dialogue.
Modern Greece · Actor · stage and screenMirka PapakonstantinouΜίρκα Παπακωνσταντίνου1947Mirka Papakonstantinou, Athenian actor of revue, Casona and the Narrator in Dogville: follow her stage career and practise reported speech in Greek.
Modern Greece · SculptorNausica PastraΝαυσικά Πάστρα1921 – 2011Nausica Pastra, a sculptor from Kalamata trained in Vienna, joined circle and square into the Synectron in Paris. Describe her geometry in Greek.
Modern Greece · Poet · prose writer · painterNiki MarangouΝίκη Μαραγκού1948 – 2013Niki Marangou, Greek-Cypriot poet, prose writer and painter from Limassol: follow her routes from Famagusta to Vienna and narrate a journey in Greek.
Modern Greece · ActressNora ValsamiΝόρα Βαλσάμη1945Nora Valsami, Cairo-born star of Finos Film, Xenopoulos TV dramas and the National Theatre: learn to hear and name tone in Greek scenes.
Modern Greece · PoetOlga VotsiΌλγα Βότση1922 – 1998Olga Votsi (1922–1998), a Piraeus-born poet of the first post-war generation, won two State Poetry Prizes. Study her night-wind simile in Greek.
Antiquity · Bronze sculptor and art theoristPolykleitosΠολύκλειτοςPolykleitos of Argos cast bronze athletes and wrote the lost Canon on proportion: describe his Diadoumenos in precise Modern Greek, copy versus original.
Modern Greece · Stage actressReni PittakiΡένη Πιττακήc. 1945Reni Pittaki spent four decades at Karolos Koun’s Art Theatre: read one of its real cast lists and practise σκηνοθέτης, ηθοποιός and ρόλος.
Modern Greece · Singer · stage performerRita AntonopoulouΡίτα ΑντωνοπούλουRita Antonopoulou sings Mikroutsikos, Theodorakis and world poetry in Greek: compare her recitals and stage shows and describe a performance in Greek.
Modern Greece · Pop singerSarbelΣαρμπέλ1981Sarbel, a London-born pop singer, sang Yassou Maria for Greece at Eurovision 2007: read his Greek interviews and describe a live performance.
Modern Greece · Novelist · teacherSofia NikolaidouΣοφία Νικολαΐδου1968Sofia Nikolaidou, novelist and teacher from Thessaloniki: read in C2 Greek about her school novel on the 1948 Polk case, Χορεύουν οι ελέφαντες.
Modern Greece · Film director · screenwriterStavros TsiolisΣταύρος Τσιώλης1937 – 2019Stavros Tsiolis, Greek director of gently comic road films such as Let the Women Wait: retrace his journeys through Arcadia in rich Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Singer · actressStefania LiberakakisΣτεφανία Λυμπερακάκη2002Stefania Liberakakis, born in Utrecht to Greek parents, came tenth for Greece at Eurovision 2021 with Last Dance: explore her Dutch, English and Greek path.
Modern Greece · Rapper · producerStereo MikeΜιχάλης Έξαρχος1978Stereo Mike, the Piraeus-born rapper and producer of XLi3h, took Greek hip hop to Eurovision 2011 and SXSW, then into research on record production.
Antiquity · Choral lyric poetBacchylidesΒακχυλίδηςc. 510 BCBacchylides of Kea wrote victory odes for Hieron and Theseus dithyrambs recovered on papyrus in 1896: use them to narrate arrivals in Modern Greek.
Modern Greece · Stage actorVera ZavitsianouΒέρα Ζαβιτσιάνου1927 – 2008Vera Zavitsianou (1927–2008), Greek stage actor of Theatro Technis and the National Theatre: Antigone at Epidaurus, Isaac, Mrs Alving, Sarah Bernhardt.
Modern Greece · Playwright · actressXenia KalogeropoulouΞένια Καλογεροπούλου1936Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Greek film star turned playwright, founded the Porta Theatre in Athens and wrote Odysseybach, a children's play full of wordplay.