Grigoris Afxentiou
Encyclopedia
Grigoris Pieris Afxentiou was a guerrilla fighter who fought against the British rule of Cyprus and is considered a national hero. In the hierarchy of EOKA
he was second in command to general Georgios Grivas. His nom-de-guerre was Zedhros (Ζήδρος).
in Mesaoria
, Famagusta District
on February 22, 1928 to Pieris and Antonia Afxentiou. He had a younger sister called Chrystala. He attended Lyssi
primary school and received his secondary education at the Hellenic Gymnasium in the nearest city, Famagusta
. Reports by those who knew him were that he was a keen sportsman and passionate about football. He supported Anorthosis one of the strongest clubs in Famagusta.
in Athens
. In December 1949 he joined the Hellenic Army
as a volunteer. From March to October 1950, he attended a reserve officer’s academy on the island of Syros
. He then served with the Hellenic Army on the Greek-Bulgarian frontier, as a second lieutenant, before returning to Cyprus and joining the EOKA struggle.
He was discharged from the ranks of the Greek Army on November 15, 1953 and returned to Cyprus where he helped his father with his business by working as a taxi driver. At that time he also got engaged to be married.
) where he soon became Second in Command, adjutant to EOKA leader George Grivas
. He was originally assigned the regional command of the district of Famagusta which he knew well. It was Grigoris Afxentiou who first thought of obtaining explosives from the sea bed, in shallow waters off the coast of Famagusta, as used by local fishermen to dynamite fish. Explosives were made from the surplus shells dumped in the sea by the British Army at the end of Second World War. Afxentiou was well liked by his peers and it did not take long for General Grivas to promote him to Commander of the Kyrenia district.
In the spring of 1955, he conducted attacks against the British-controlled Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
and the electricity company in Nicosia. Known by the code name Zidros (Ζήδρος), since the day of his attacks, he was top of the British list of most wanted men. They initially proclaimed a reward of £250 for his arrest, which was soon raised to £1,000, and then £5,000 pounds sterling for blowing up British property.
When the reward was proclaimed, he went into hiding in the Pentadactylos mountain range
where he trained EOKA fighters on weapon use and guerrilla warfare. He was very active in the Pentadaktylos range as well as Mount Troodos.
During October, 1955, on the day after Field Marshal Harding's arrival on Cyprus
Afxentiou raided Lefkoniko
Police Station, in broad daylight, and seized the entire armoury that was stored there. Although the raid was planned well in advance it clearly appeared as a challenge to the Field Marshal's authority who thereafter pursued Afxentiou zealously.
In December, 1955, Afxentiou was relocated on orders of General Grivas to the Troodos mountain range and the General's hideout at Spilia
, which led to Afxentiou's involvement in the Battle of Spilia
.
On March 3, 1957, after an informant had betrayed his location, the British forces surrounded Afxentiou outside his secret hideout near the Machairas Monastery
. At the time, inside the hideout was Afxentiou and four fellow guerrilla fighters. Realising he was outnumbered, Afxentiou ordered his comrades to surrender but stayed behind to fight to the death. The British asked Afxentiou to surrender his arms but he replied "Molon labe
" (trans. "come and take them") quoting King Leonidas
of Sparta
at Thermopylae
. Unable to drive him out and after sustaining casualties, the British forces resolved to pouring petrol in to his hideout, burning him alive. In fear of popular uprising, the British buried his scorched body at the Imprisoned Graves
, in the yard of the Central Jail of Lefkosia, where he lies today.
EOKA
EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving...
he was second in command to general Georgios Grivas. His nom-de-guerre was Zedhros (Ζήδρος).
Early years
Afxentiou was born in the village of LyssiLysi
Lysi is a village located in the Mesaoria plain of the Famagusta district of Cyprus, north of the city of Larnaca.In 1960, there were 3,700 Greek Cypriots living in the village and approximately 6,000 in 1974 when they all fled because of the Turkish invasion and occupation of the north part of...
in Mesaoria
Mesaoria
The Mesaoria is a broad, sweeping plain which makes up the centre of the island of Cyprus.-Geography:The Mesaoria plain is bounded on the east and west by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by the Troodos mountains and on the north by the Kyrenia mountains. It has an area of approximately...
, Famagusta District
Famagusta District
Famagusta District is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its main town is the island's most important port, Famagusta. The city of Famagusta is currently controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ....
on February 22, 1928 to Pieris and Antonia Afxentiou. He had a younger sister called Chrystala. He attended Lyssi
Lysi
Lysi is a village located in the Mesaoria plain of the Famagusta district of Cyprus, north of the city of Larnaca.In 1960, there were 3,700 Greek Cypriots living in the village and approximately 6,000 in 1974 when they all fled because of the Turkish invasion and occupation of the north part of...
primary school and received his secondary education at the Hellenic Gymnasium in the nearest city, Famagusta
Famagusta
Famagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus and is capital of the Famagusta District. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island.-Name:...
. Reports by those who knew him were that he was a keen sportsman and passionate about football. He supported Anorthosis one of the strongest clubs in Famagusta.
Army Service
He left for Greece where he was unsuccessful in gaining a place at the Hellenic Military AcademyHellenic Military Academy
The Evelpidon Military Academy is the oldest tertiary level educational institution in Greece. It was founded in 1828 in Nafplio by Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of the modern Greek State....
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. In December 1949 he joined the Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
as a volunteer. From March to October 1950, he attended a reserve officer’s academy on the island of Syros
Syros
Syros , or Siros or Syra is a Greek island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It is located south-east of Athens. The area of the island is . The largest towns are Ermoupoli, Ano Syros, and Vari. Ermoupoli is the capital of the island and the Cyclades...
. He then served with the Hellenic Army on the Greek-Bulgarian frontier, as a second lieutenant, before returning to Cyprus and joining the EOKA struggle.
He was discharged from the ranks of the Greek Army on November 15, 1953 and returned to Cyprus where he helped his father with his business by working as a taxi driver. At that time he also got engaged to be married.
EOKA
Afxentiou joined the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (EOKAEOKA
EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving...
) where he soon became Second in Command, adjutant to EOKA leader George Grivas
George Grivas
Georgios Grivas , also known by his nom de guerre Digenis , which he adopted while in EOKA, was a Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army, leader of the EOKA guerrilla organization and EOKA B paramilitary organisation.-Early life:Georgios Grivas was born on July 5, 1898 in Trikomo, Famagusta...
. He was originally assigned the regional command of the district of Famagusta which he knew well. It was Grigoris Afxentiou who first thought of obtaining explosives from the sea bed, in shallow waters off the coast of Famagusta, as used by local fishermen to dynamite fish. Explosives were made from the surplus shells dumped in the sea by the British Army at the end of Second World War. Afxentiou was well liked by his peers and it did not take long for General Grivas to promote him to Commander of the Kyrenia district.
In the spring of 1955, he conducted attacks against the British-controlled Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC is Cyprus's public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of...
and the electricity company in Nicosia. Known by the code name Zidros (Ζήδρος), since the day of his attacks, he was top of the British list of most wanted men. They initially proclaimed a reward of £250 for his arrest, which was soon raised to £1,000, and then £5,000 pounds sterling for blowing up British property.
When the reward was proclaimed, he went into hiding in the Pentadactylos mountain range
Pentadactylos
The Pentadaktylos is a mountain mass which makes up the western half of the Kyrenia Mountains, a long, narrow chain which runs 160 km along the Northern coast of Cyprus. Both the Greek name and the Turkish name for these mountains come from the five finger-like projections of a mountain...
where he trained EOKA fighters on weapon use and guerrilla warfare. He was very active in the Pentadaktylos range as well as Mount Troodos.
During October, 1955, on the day after Field Marshal Harding's arrival on Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
Afxentiou raided Lefkoniko
Lefkoniko
Lefkoniko is a village in the Famagusta District of Cyprus. It lies in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , in the northern third of the island.-History:...
Police Station, in broad daylight, and seized the entire armoury that was stored there. Although the raid was planned well in advance it clearly appeared as a challenge to the Field Marshal's authority who thereafter pursued Afxentiou zealously.
In December, 1955, Afxentiou was relocated on orders of General Grivas to the Troodos mountain range and the General's hideout at Spilia
Spilia
Spilia may refer to a number of places in Greece:*Spilia, Chania, a municipality in the Chania Prefecture*Spilia, Fokida, a municipality in the Fokida prefecture*Spilia, Heraklio, a municipality in the Heraklio Prefecture...
, which led to Afxentiou's involvement in the Battle of Spilia
Battle of Spilia
The Battle of Spilia was fought on December 12, 1955 in the EOKA campaign against the British in Cyprus.Acting on information provided by an informant 700 hundred soldiers of the British Army, attempted to encircle the headquarters of EOKA General Georgios Grivas on the Troodos mountains near the...
.
On March 3, 1957, after an informant had betrayed his location, the British forces surrounded Afxentiou outside his secret hideout near the Machairas Monastery
Machairas Monastery
Machairas is a historic monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary located about 40 km from the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia. It lies at an altitude of about 900 m and was founded at the end of the 12th century close to the current village of Lazanias.- History :Legend has it that an unknown hermit...
. At the time, inside the hideout was Afxentiou and four fellow guerrilla fighters. Realising he was outnumbered, Afxentiou ordered his comrades to surrender but stayed behind to fight to the death. The British asked Afxentiou to surrender his arms but he replied "Molon labe
Molon labe
The Ancient Greek phrase ' means "Come and take them". It is a classical expression of defiance reportedly spoken by King Leonidas I in response to the Persian army's demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons at the Battle of Thermopylae...
" (trans. "come and take them") quoting King Leonidas
Leonidas I
Leonidas I was a hero-king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line, one of the sons of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta, who was believed in mythology to be a descendant of Heracles, possessing much of the latter's strength and bravery...
of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
at Thermopylae
Thermopylae
Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. "Hot gates" is also "the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades"....
. Unable to drive him out and after sustaining casualties, the British forces resolved to pouring petrol in to his hideout, burning him alive. In fear of popular uprising, the British buried his scorched body at the Imprisoned Graves
Imprisoned Graves
The "Imprisoned Graves" is a small cemetery located in the Central Jail of Nicosia, where 13 EOKA fighters, during the 1955-1959 liberation struggle for the liberation of Cyprus from the United Kingdom, were interred...
, in the yard of the Central Jail of Lefkosia, where he lies today.
Sources
- The Memoirs of General Grivas, by George Grivas, edited by Charles Foley. Longmans. London. 1964.
- http://www.johnpap.net/not-en/proKypros/GrhgorhsAyjentioy.htm Grigoris Afxentiou, a Cypriot fighter
- http://www.orc.gov.cy/orc/orc.nsf/LookupIDs/89F46283728C2F2CC2256AD30032D757?OpenDocument&languageNo=2 Learn About Cyprus article (Greek language article about Grigoris Afxentiou)