Important people
A number of very important and famous people is born on the island of Crete. You'll find the names of these persons everywhere in Crete.
Through the ages Crete has suffered under the occupation by many other nations. The inhabitants of the island have always resisted against hostile rulers. Ioannis Vlachos (Daskalogiannis) for example, was one of the most important resistance heroes from the eighteenth century. He is seen as an example for all resistance heroes on Crete who picked up weapons to fight against the occupiers.
The best known artist who was born on Crete is Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco). He was born in the sixteenth century and is best known from the time that he lived in Spain.
Nikos Kazantzakis was a major Greek writer. He is well known for the novel "Zorba the Greek".
The main Greek head of state of the first half of the twentieth century was Eleftherios Venizelos. He ruled Greece during several periods at the beginning of the twentieth century. He eventually died in exile in France.
Sir Arthur John Evans is not from Crete, but he was very important for the island. This British archaeologist did the major excavations of Knossos. He took different things from the Minoan period, and therefore was very important for the island.
|
