Greek people
People of Greece and famous Greeks
For thousands of years now the Greeks have been known for their
hospitality. Evidence for this can be seen in the language; the word
for 'foreigner' is 'Xenos' and 'hospitality' is 'filoxenia' which
translates into English as 'friend to the foreigner'. Being a
seafaring nation the Greek people do not suffer from 'xenophobia'
which, ironically although a Greek word, doesn't apply to them! they
are always friendly and will go out of their way to help you - so
don't hesitate to ask for their assistance if you need to. The
majority of Greeks speak English or another European language such
as Italian, French or German and, indeed, many speak several of
these! Being of a Mediterranean temperament, the Greeks like to talk
loud, using extravagant body language. Many times in cafes or
restaurants the non-Greek may misunderstand this and think they are
fighting. No way! It's just Greeks having a friendly discussion.
INTERNATIONAL FAMOUS GREEKS IN THE MODERN TIMES
GEORGE PAPANICOLAOU :the inventor of the pap smear for cancer
detection in women, a diagnostic test that has saved millions of
lives
MELINA MERKOURI :LATE GREEK MINISTER OF CULTURE AND
UNFORGETTABLE ACTRESS IN "NEVER ON SUNDAY" AND "STELLA"
MARIA CALLAS:
THE GREATEST OPERA DIVA
IRENE PAPAS: ACTRESS -Zorba the Greek ,The Guns of Navarone ,
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
NANA MOUSKOURI :the famous Greek Singer
KATINA PAXINOU : One of the greatest greek actress Oscar winner
for: For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)
KOSTIS PALAMAS :Poet the author of the
Olympic anthem
,
ODYSSEAS ELYTIS :Poet Nobel price winner;
GEORGE SEFERIS :Nobel Prize for Literature in 1963
YANNIS RITSOS :The poet of Romiosini
NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS :one of the greatest Greek writers, poets and
philosophers of the 20th century from
Crete, Zorba the Greek ,the last
temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese's 1988 film The Last
Temptation of Christ was based on Nikos Kazantzakis book) report to
Greco, freedom or death,
MIKIS
THEODORAKIS :composer of Zorba the Greek together with Manos
Hadjidakis and Vangelis the greatest composers of modern Greece
MANOS HADJIDAKIS :Composer; Oscar winner "never on Sunday"
together with Mikis Theodorakis and Vangelis the greatest
Greek
music composers
of modern Greece
ARISTOTELES ONASSIS THE GREEK TYCOON FOUNDER OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
Stelios
Hadjioannou; Founder of easy Jet airlines
JOHN CASSAVETES : Actor and Director,Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actor;in the Dirty Dozen
GEORGE TSAKIRIS :Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor;in West
Side Story
PETE SAMPRAS :tennis player
JENNIFER ANISTON:acterss (FRIENDS)
OLYMPIA DUKAKIS :Oskar winner actress sister of Michael Dukakis
MICHAEL DUKAKIS (Democratic nominee for USA president, 1988)
SPYRO AGNEW : ex Vice President of the USA
HERBERT VON KARAJAN:One of the Greatest Maestros
TELLY SAVALAS
:the famous Kojak
DEMIS ROUSSOS :Singer
VANGELIS: Composer and Oskar winner
GEORGE
MICHAEL :The famous singer
VICKY
LEANDROS :Singer winner of the European song-contest 1972
GEORGES
MOUSTAKI ,
ELIA
KASAN :Director Oscar winner for "America America" among his
films ,EAST OF EDEN with James Dean and the Grapes of wrath
COSTAS GAVRAS:Director Oscar winner for "Z"
MICHAEL KAKOGIANNIS :Oscar winner ZORBA THE GREEK
MELINA KANAKAREDES :Actress
NIA
VARDALOS :Acterss and writer of My big fat Greek wedding
FRANK ZAPPA: the golden 70's Singer
CAT
STEVENS :the golden 70's Singer
Compaq's ' Boss Michael Capellas :GREEK POLITICIANS
ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
KONSTANTINOS KARAMANLIS
ANDREAS PAPANDREOU
ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS OF CYPRUS :GREEK ARTISTS THROUGH THE AGES
EL GRECO (DOMINIKOS THEOTOKOPOULOS) the Famous Painter
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