Nikos Kazantzakis

Writer. He was born in Candia (now Heraklion, Crete). He is considered one of the most important Greek writers of all times. He is best remembered for his book "Life and Time of Alexis Zorbas" (Zorba the Greek). He also wrote "The Last Temptation", "Christ Recrucified", "Askitikis", "Sodom and Gomorrah", "Freedom and Death", "God's Pauper", "Report to Greco" and "Travels", with the author's impressions of Spain, Italy, Sinai, Japan, England, Russia, Jerusalem and Cyprus. He died in Germany, and when his body arrived in Athens, the Greek Orthodox Church refused to allow it to lie in state. The body was transferred to Crete, where it was viewed in the cathedral church of Heraklion. A huge procession followed it to interment on the Venetian ramparts. Later, Kazantzakis' chosen epitaph was inscribed on the tomb: "Den elpizo tipota. Den fovumai tipota. Eimai eleftheros." (I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.) He was featured on the 2017 Greek Commemorative 2 Euro Coin.