Cyprus is a small island, but it has a rich history. And people, as we know, are not just part of history, but its creators. Which famous personalities were born in southern/northern Cyprus and glorified it in Europe and even worldwide — a concise and very interesting overview from DOM.
Pillars of ancient, medieval and modern history
Zeno of Citium
Perhaps this is the very first “famous personality” whose name has retained its prominence to this day. Zeno of Citium is the founder of the Stoic school in Athens. Zeno was born in Citium (also known as Kition) around 334 BC; later he moved to the mainland to continue his studies with the Cynics. He quickly became disillusioned with Cynicism, gathered like-minded followers around him, and founded his own school. The principles of Stoicism are still studied and interpreted in different ways by modern philosophers.
Note! Kition survives as ruins in the territory of modern Larnaca. Some artifacts (domestic and ritual utensils) are displayed in the island’s museums. A statue of Zeno stands on the Finikoudes promenade.
Apollonius of Citium (Kition)
Another native of once-prosperous Kition. Apollonius of Citium was born around 60 BC and devoted himself to medicine. He is considered to have been the most outstanding physician in Cyprus at that time! This is not surprising: according to some sources, Apollonius wrote 21 books independently and in collaboration with other physicians. The only one that has survived — Peri Arthron, Greek: Περὶ Ἄρθρων — is dedicated to the health and diseases of joints.
Isaac Komnenos
This Byzantine ruler was not born on the island, but he entered its history forever as the first and only emperor of Cyprus. Being quite cruel and authoritarian, he captured the island and lived and ruled there for a long time, successfully repelling attacks from other invaders. In the confrontation with Richard the Lionheart, Komnenos lost, and the island of Cyprus passed “under the wing” of a new ruler. Komnenos attempted to flee from the northern part of Cyprus but was captured and taken into custody.
Interesting! Richard’s wife Berengaria, after whom the famous ghost hotel (now no longer a ghost) was named, raised the daughter of Isaac Komnenos after his capture.
Archbishop Makarios III
One of the most beloved historical figures in Cyprus, the embodiment of kind, wise, and competent governance of the country. Michael Christodoulou Mouskos was born in the village of Pano Panagia (Paphos district) in 1913. In 1938 he took monastic vows under the name Makarios, which made him famous not only on the island but worldwide.
Makarios never stopped studying and also delivered lectures in different countries. His active position allowed Cyprus to cease existing as a British colony when in 1959 it gained full independence and the proud title of Republic. In 1960 Archbishop Makarios became the first president of Cyprus: he won the election decisively.
After the division of the island into Southern and Northern Cyprus, Makarios III remained president of the southern part until his death in 1977.
Modern celebrities from Cyprus
George Michael
Among the most popular people with Cypriot roots, George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, 1963–2016) is usually remembered first. Although he was born not on the island itself but in London, the “notes” of Cyprus are clearly visible in his appearance and temperament. His father was a citizen of the island, and his mother was English. Hence the distinctly Greek-Cypriot name and type. George Michael is famous for his participation in the group Wham! and his solo career. In the latter, the songs Freedom!, Jesus to a Child, Freeek! and Last Christmas gained worldwide fame.
Evridiki
Pop singer Evridiki Theokleous was born in Limassol in 1968 and gained popularity not only in her homeland but also in Greece. Today she is one of the most well-known figures in Greek-language pop music. In 1992, 1994 and 2007 Evridiki represented Cyprus at Eurovision, but she did not rise above 11th place. However, this did not affect her popularity.
Sophia Hadjipanteli
Sophia was born in 1997 in the United States, but like George Michael, she inherited her nationality from her Cypriot father. Today she is a famous model whose fame spread thanks to social media. Sophia’s “signature feature” is her thick and dark eyebrows, which almost meet on the bridge of her nose.
The modern “Frida Kahlo” promotes the idea that beauty should not be standardized and that every person is unique. However, the girl’s eyebrows are not entirely natural: she uses products to thicken them and darkens them with makeup.
Halil (Hal) Ozsan
An American actor born in Famagusta (Northern Cyprus) in 1976. His nationality is Turkish Cypriot, and his appearance clearly reflects this. Of course, Hal does not stand in the same row as DiCaprio or Al Pacino, but he has played quite notable roles. The most famous are in the series “Kyle XY,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “90210: The New Generation.”
Michalis Hatzigiannis
A popular Greek-Cypriot performer, one of the most prominent figures in Greek-language pop music. He was born in 1978 in Nicosia; in 1998 he represented Cyprus at Eurovision. Interestingly, in 2023 he briefly held the position of Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus.
Stassinos (Stass) Paraskos
A fairly well-known artist in Europe who caused quite a stir in his time. He was born in the village of Anafotia (Larnaca district) in 1933, received his first education in Cyprus, and then moved to the United Kingdom for 30 years.
In 1966 a criminal case was opened against Paraskos: his exhibition was considered “pornographic,” although by modern standards the paintings look quite decent. The creative community supported Paraskos and raised the question of whether there are boundaries to a work of art and when it makes sense to talk about censorship.
Thanks to Stass Paraskos, the Cyprus College of Art appeared in Famagusta (Northern Cyprus), as well as the Cyprus College of Art in Kato Paphos and in Lempa. By the way, the design of the latter college was created by Paraskos himself.
Fatima Whitbread (née Vedad)
Fatima was born in London to a family of Cypriots but later ended up in an orphanage. She had a difficult childhood — until she was adopted by coach Margaret Whitbread. The girl trained from the age of 11, and it paid off. Fatima won bronze in Los Angeles in 1984 and silver in Seoul in 1988 at the Olympic Games. In 1986 the champion set a world record in javelin throwing: 77.44 meters. Later it was beaten by other athletes.
Maria Kalimera
This girl, who was born in Paralimni (free area of Famagusta) in 1989, is a great example of strength of will, spirit, and body. Since childhood Maria has had problems with the musculoskeletal system, namely her legs. But she did not accept her weakness and instead focused her strength in her arms.
She set a record included in the Guinness Book of Records: she held a plank for 3 hours and 31 minutes. Later it was beaten by Canadian Donna Mellinger, who in 2019 held a plank for 4 hours 20 minutes. However, in the same year Maria Kalimera challenged both her and herself, holding a plank for 5 hours and 25 minutes — this record was not officially registered, but the fact itself is impressive!
Ray Woolley
Ray Woolley was born in 1923 in the United Kingdom, but he has long lived in Cyprus and glorifies it in a rather unusual way. The fact is that Ray is the oldest diver, a title awarded by the Guinness Book of Records.
In 2017, at the age of 94, Woolley made a dive to the sunken ferry “Zenobia,” and it was registered as an absolute record. The retiree lives in Limassol but continues to dive regularly and explore the underwater world of Cyprus.
Christopher Pissarides
The list should be concluded with a Nobel Prize laureate. Christopher Pissarides was born in Nicosia in 1948 and went to study at the University of Essex. After graduation his career took off, and Pissarides pursued science with purpose. He addressed important issues of unemployment, market improvement, and increasing people’s well-being. In 2010 he received the Nobel Prize in Economics together with Peter Diamond and Dale Mortensen “for their analysis of markets with search frictions.”
This list is not the most complete, but it includes the most outstanding well-known personalities who were born or lived in Cyprus. It is pleasant to realize that the world knows about this small but very fertile (in every sense) island.
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