Famous Greek People
Venjamin Karres (of Lesvos) is one of the most important and attractive figures to whom the title "Teacher of the Nation " is given. He was a native of Megalochori of Lesvos (1762) and he studied at Kydonies, as well as in Europe.
According to Strabo, Terpander, a native poet and musician of Antissa in Lesbos. He is said to have invented a seven-stringed instrument resembling a lyre, called a 'kithara' by increasing the number of strings from four to seven.
Stratis Eleftheriadis - Teriade was born in Mytilini in 1897 and died in Paris in 1983. At the age of eighteen he left for Paris to study law. His real passion, however, was art theory and critic. At the time he was in Paris modern art was first taking form and gradually Teriade became part of the circle of the pioneering modern artists and their proponents.
Theophilos Chatzimichael, one of the greatest known historical painters in Greece was from the island of Lesvos. He was born in the area of Varia near to the capital of Mytilini in 1873 and lived to see many changes until he died in 1934. Sometimes called The Greek Vincent Van Gough, he was a unique folk artist-painter.
The Roman era historian Theophanes (100 B.C.) was born in Mytilene.
He accompanied Pompei in his military operations in Asia Minor and wrote an account of them. Pompei, in return of these services, accorded him the rights of a Roman Citizen. It is said by Strabo that such was Pompei's trust in Theophane's abilities that he never did anything without taking his advice.
Pittakos was one of the Seven Sages of antiquity, and was native of Mytilene (648 B.C).
He was devoted to public service, associated with the aristocratic party, and fought in many wars, eventually becoming a General. He was renowned for his adamant character and decency. His popularity was such that the Mytileneans vested him with dictatoral powers, a kind of elected tyrant. He introduced and applied many new laws and granted amnesty to his enemies, believing that forgiveness is better than punishment. He opted to rule for only ten years, relinquishing power with his own free will.
