Greece 2 euros 2017. 60 years since the death of Nikos Kazantzakis

Greece 2 euros 2017. 60 years since the death of Nikos Kazantzakis.

Nikos Kazantzakis (Greek Νίκος Καζαντζάκης) is one of the most famous Greek writers of the 20th century. Also a poet, playwright and thinker.

The future novelist was born in Crete. The island was then still part of the Ottoman Empire. The writer was born not far from Heraklion on February 18, 1883 in the family of Michael and Maria Kazantzakis. Childhood was spent in the village of Varvari (now Mirta). The father of the future classic was a farmer and trader.

After graduating from school in 1902, Nikos moved to Athens. Here he entered the university at the Faculty of Law. He graduated with honors in 1906, and a year later went to Paris. In France, a novice novelist was enrolled in graduate school. Few years engaged in philosophy
Kazantzakis is one of the most talented Greek writers. He is the author of essays, novels, poems, tragedies, guidebooks and translations of classic works such as “The Divine Comedy of Dante” and “Faust” by Goethe. Like his character Odyssey (from the epic poem Odyssey, containing 33,333 verses, and published in 1938), Kazantzakis spent most of his life outside of Greece. Some of his works are connected with the history and culture of his homeland, as well as the mystical connection between God and man. He was also interested in the history of world literature and wrote books for children.

Among the most famous of his works are the novels “Greek Zorba” (1946), “Christ is crucified again” (1948), “Captain Michalis” (1949), “The poor man from Assisi” (1956), “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1960) . Books of the Greek classics are translated into all European languages ​​and published in many countries.

The writer won recognition late enough, after the church had subjected him to persecution. On account of Kazantzakis numerous literary awards. In 1956, he won the International Peace Prize. The Greek classic was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize.

Nikos gained fame also thanks to the screen versions of his works. On the big screens came the films “The One Who Is To Die” (1957) based on the novel “Christ Is Crucified Again”, “The Greek Zorba” (1964), “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988).

Obverse: In the central part of the coin, a profile portrait of N. Kazantzakis is depicted. On the left along the edge of the disc there is the name of the issuing state and the year of issue of the coin “ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ 2017”, the second line is the name of the writer “ΝΙΚΟΣ »Σ”, on the right is the mint mark - acanthus leaf. To the right of the portrait there is a designation of the artist "ΣΤΑΜ". In the circle of the outer ring are 12 stars of the European Union.

Reverse: Expanded map of the European Union countries, a variant of sample 2007, 12 stars (according to the initial number of eurozone countries) and 6 parallel lines - a symbol of stability. As well as the face value of the coin - “2 EURO”.

Release Date: 07/10/2017