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Nikos Kazantzakis

Who was Nikos Kazantzakis?

One of the most important Greek writers, poets and philosophers of the 20th century

When was he born?Where was he born?

Kazantzakis was born 18th February in 1883 in Heraklion Crete, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)

What did he study?

Kazantzakis studied law at the University of Athens, then went to Paris in 1907 to study philosophy.

Was he married?

Kazantzakis married Galatea Alexiou in 1911; they divorced in 1926.

He married Eleni Samiou in 1945.

How old was he when he die? Where did he die?

26 October 1957 (aged 74) Freiburg, West Germany

What were his occupations?

Poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher, playwright, travel writer

Did he get any prize?

In 28th of June 1956, in Vienna, he was awarded the International Peace Award.

Where did he went to?

He traveled to to different countries and wrote some travel books. He went to Spain, Italy, France, Sinai, Japan, England, Russia, Jerusalem and Cyprus.

Why was he famous?

In 1927 he published the book "Askitiki", the main work of his philosophy.

He became famous, during the last years of his life, he published, among others, Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation of Christ ….

His book, The Last Temptation of Christ, was considered quite controversial when first published in 1955, and prompted angry reactions from both the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Some curiosities

The 50th anniversary of the death of Nikos Kazantzakis was selected as main motif for a high value Euro collectors' coins; the €10 Greek Nikos Kazantzakis commemorative coin, minted in 2007.

The international airport of Heraklion is named after Nikos Kazantzakis.

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