“Alexis” Georgios Zorba
Where Zorba danced Syrtaki
Have you ever heard about Alexis Zorba, Greek, son of a shepherd, then a miner a tradesman but most of all – a bohem, a wine, song and dance lover? If not, find out here about this extraordinary man and his life, which ends in Skopje…
“Alexis” (born as Georgios) Zorba (or Zorbas) was born in the village of Katafygi, Greece, in around 1867. He was the son of a wealthy landowner and sheep-owner. He worked in his fields and flocks at Katafygi, became a woodcutter, and later left for Palaiochori, Chalkidiki, where he spent the most decisive years of his life, 1889-1911. He worked as a miner for a French company and became friends with the foreman, Giannis Kalkounis. He eloped with Kalkounis's daughter Eleni and eventually had children. By the end of this period, war and the death of his wife brought great unhappiness to his family.
“Alexis” Georgios Zorba
After all this, in 1915, he decided to become a monk and left for Mount Athos. It was there that he met Nikos Kazantzakis, who become a famous novel writer, and they become close friends. They went together to Mani peninsula, where they worked as miners. It was their experiences here that Kazantzakis later wrote into Zorba the Greek. However, Zorba became most famous by an Academy Award-nominated film, Zorba the Greek (1964, directed by Michael Cacoyannis) wherein his role was played by Anthony Quinn. Music for this movie was composed by Mikis Theodorakis, and the “dancing scene” of Zorba and young Basil (Alan Bates) dancing syrtaki, is the most famous…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UV6HVMRmdk
Alexis Zorba and Basil dancing Syrtaki
And how it happened that “Zorba danced syrtaki” in Skopje?
In spring 1922 at Skopje train station arrived a train from Thessaloniki. A strange passenger with a 10years old girl disembarked from the train. The man asked where the hotel "Lovec” (The Hunter) was. This big man with mustache couldn’t pass thru Skopje streets unnoticed, however nobody could even imagine that this man would became The famous Zorba from the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis! Zorba and his daughter Catherina settled down in Skopje. Here, for the next two decades he would work, but also drink, sing and dance syrtaki. Georgios Zorbas remained remembered for Saturday drinking binges at local bars and tavernas, especially in the inn "Marger". His charm, easy assembly of acquaintances helped him fully fit into the image of the city, to acquire new friendships, and even conquer affection of the most beautiful lady in Skopje - the widow Lyuba. During his stay in Skopje he kept close touch to his friend Nikos Kazantzakis, writing him about his life in Skopje, which contributed to the material for the future novel.
Marger Inn on Macedonia Square
He died of a heart attack in 1941, at the hotel "Hunter", just a few months after the Catherine's marriage to a rich Jew from Skopje and only a few days after Nikos Kazantzakis started writing the book.
His final resting place is located at Butel cemetery in Skopje.
The grave of Alexis Zorba
Today citizens of Skopje don’t know about Zorba as their fellow-citizen. However, even today we could learn something from this unusual man. It was recorded that Zorba used to say: "There was time when I divided people into the Bulgarians, Turks, Macedonians and Greeks. Now I divided them only into good and bad. And one day I'll stop divide them into anything, because we will all lie in the same ground ... "
About this cache: the cache is placed near the new Marger restaurand. The previous location of Marger, where Zorba danced his syrtaki, was at the square Macedonia. The owners of Marger try to cherish and nurture the spirit of the life Skopje lived decades ago, in which Zorba impressed his own mark.
Where Zorba danced Syrtaki
Have you ever heard about Alexis Zorba, Greek, son of a shepherd, then a miner a tradesman but most of all – a bohem, a wine, song and dance lover? If not, find out here about this extraordinary man and his life, which ends in Skopje…
“Alexis” (born as Georgios) Zorba (or Zorbas) was born in the village of Katafygi, Greece, in around 1867. He was the son of a wealthy landowner and sheep-owner. He worked in his fields and flocks at Katafygi, became a woodcutter, and later left for Palaiochori, Chalkidiki, where he spent the most decisive years of his life, 1889-1911. He worked as a miner for a French company and became friends with the foreman, Giannis Kalkounis. He eloped with Kalkounis's daughter Eleni and eventually had children. By the end of this period, war and the death of his wife brought great unhappiness to his family.
“Alexis” Georgios Zorba
After all this, in 1915, he decided to become a monk and left for Mount Athos. It was there that he met Nikos Kazantzakis, who become a famous novel writer, and they become close friends. They went together to Mani peninsula, where they worked as miners. It was their experiences here that Kazantzakis later wrote into Zorba the Greek. However, Zorba became most famous by an Academy Award-nominated film, Zorba the Greek (1964, directed by Michael Cacoyannis) wherein his role was played by Anthony Quinn. Music for this movie was composed by Mikis Theodorakis, and the “dancing scene” of Zorba and young Basil (Alan Bates) dancing syrtaki, is the most famous…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UV6HVMRmdk
Alexis Zorba and Basil dancing Syrtaki
And how it happened that “Zorba danced syrtaki” in Skopje?
In spring 1922 at Skopje train station arrived a train from Thessaloniki. A strange passenger with a 10years old girl disembarked from the train. The man asked where the hotel "Lovec” (The Hunter) was. This big man with mustache couldn’t pass thru Skopje streets unnoticed, however nobody could even imagine that this man would became The famous Zorba from the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis! Zorba and his daughter Catherina settled down in Skopje. Here, for the next two decades he would work, but also drink, sing and dance syrtaki. Georgios Zorbas remained remembered for Saturday drinking binges at local bars and tavernas, especially in the inn "Marger". His charm, easy assembly of acquaintances helped him fully fit into the image of the city, to acquire new friendships, and even conquer affection of the most beautiful lady in Skopje - the widow Lyuba. During his stay in Skopje he kept close touch to his friend Nikos Kazantzakis, writing him about his life in Skopje, which contributed to the material for the future novel.
Marger Inn on Macedonia Square
He died of a heart attack in 1941, at the hotel "Hunter", just a few months after the Catherine's marriage to a rich Jew from Skopje and only a few days after Nikos Kazantzakis started writing the book.
His final resting place is located at Butel cemetery in Skopje.
The grave of Alexis Zorba
Today citizens of Skopje don’t know about Zorba as their fellow-citizen. However, even today we could learn something from this unusual man. It was recorded that Zorba used to say: "There was time when I divided people into the Bulgarians, Turks, Macedonians and Greeks. Now I divided them only into good and bad. And one day I'll stop divide them into anything, because we will all lie in the same ground ... "
About this cache: the cache is placed near the new Marger restaurand. The previous location of Marger, where Zorba danced his syrtaki, was at the square Macedonia. The owners of Marger try to cherish and nurture the spirit of the life Skopje lived decades ago, in which Zorba impressed his own mark.
