Not just ancient philosophers: two Nobel prizes for literature, the greatest soprano of the 20th century, Oscar-winning film-makers and NBA champions. The Greeks who made modern history.
Ancient figures have their own pages in the history and philosophy sections. Here are the best-known Greeks of the last two centuries.
Politics
Person
Dates
Why famous
Ioannis Kapodistrias
1776-1831
First head of independent Greece, assassinated at Nafplio
Eleftherios Venizelos
1864-1936
Cretan statesman who doubled Greece's territory in the Balkan Wars
Konstantinos Karamanlis
1907-1998
Restored democracy in 1974 and took Greece into the European Community
Andreas Papandreou
1919-1996
Founder of PASOK, first socialist prime minister from 1981
Melina Mercouri
1920-1994
Actress, then culture minister; created the European Capitals of Culture and demanded the return of the Parthenon marbles
Literature
Person
Dates
Why famous
Dionysios Solomos
1798-1857
Poet from Zakynthos, author of the national anthem
Constantine Cavafy
1863-1933
Poet from Alexandria, author of Ithaca and Waiting for the Barbarians
Nikos Kazantzakis
1883-1957
Cretan author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ
Giorgos Seferis
1900-1971
Poet and diplomat, first Greek Nobel laureate (1963)
Composer of Zorba the Greek, symbol of resistance to the dictatorship
Manos Hadjidakis
1925-1994
Oscar for Never on Sunday (1960), writer of timeless songs
Nana Mouskouri
1934
One of the best-selling singers of all time
Vangelis
1943-2022
Oscar for the Chariots of Fire score, composer of Blade Runner
Demis Roussos
1946-2015
Internationally successful pop singer of the 1970s
Cinema
Person
Dates
Why famous
Michael Cacoyannis
1922-2011
Director of Zorba the Greek (1964)
Costa-Gavras
1933
Director of Z, Oscar for best foreign-language film
Theo Angelopoulos
1935-2012
Master of art cinema, Palme d'Or at Cannes for Eternity and a Day
Yorgos Lanthimos
1973
Director of The Favourite and Poor Things, Golden Lion in Venice in 2023
Sport
Person
Born
Why famous
Spyridon Louis
1873-1940
Winner of the first modern Olympic marathon, Athens 1896
Giannis Antetokounmpo
1994
Athens-born basketball player, two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion
Stefanos Tsitsipas
1998
Tennis player, finalist at Roland Garros and the Australian Open
Miltiadis Tentoglou
1998
Olympic long jump champion in Tokyo and Paris
The national football team
2004
Surprise European champions, coached by Otto Rehhagel
Business
Shipowners Aristotle Onassis (1906-1975) and Stavros Niarchos (1909-1996) built empires on oil tankers. The Niarchos Foundation funded Athens's great cultural centre designed by Renzo Piano, home to the National Library and the Greek National Opera.
