Phantis - User contributions [en]

User talk:Irlandos

2009-03-05T17:57:00Z

Iliada:

== Copyright status ==

Hi Irlandos, you're an admin over here, right? Over at the English Wikipedia, we were having a discussion about the copyright status of your site. From your "General Disclaimers" page, I take it that phantis articles are supposed to be under GFDL, so it would be legal for us at WP to take over material from you. Is that correct? Now, some people expressed concerns that the copyright conditions of phantis weren't expressed clearly enough. You can find the discussion at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_%28policy%29#Copying_articles_from_external_wikis], you can reach me at my talk page at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Future_Perfect_at_Sunrise].

It appears that both sites may have been copying material from each other without proper attribution, maybe it would be good to come up with some practical way of mutually attributing such loans.

[[User:Fut.Perf.|Fut.Perf.]] 09:59, January 22, 2007 (EST)

Hello, Fut.Perf.,
Our intention here at Phantis was indeed to create a free wiki, under GFDL, for yourselves - and anyone else - to freely use, copy, etc. At one point, it was brought to our attention that it was wrong for us to copy information from you without proper acknowledgement. We then created the "Credit Wikipedia" template which you may have noticed on several of our articles. Should you think that a better way exists, all suggestions are welcome. Hope this has been of help, if not, please contact Lazarus - the man who pays the bills around here - for further discussion. I will let him know you contacted me.
Many thanks for doing so and I hope we may continue to aid one another in our ultimate goal which is to spread knowledge freely on the web - --[[User:Irlandos|Irlandos]] 11:33, January 22, 2007 (EST)

:Thanks for your reply. To make transfer from Phantis to WP smoother, it would apparently help if you made your GFDL licensing more explicit. It was pointed out that for it to be formally reliable, you need to provide an actual copy of the GFDL text on your site, and it would also be nice if your articles themselves (somewhere in the footer of the html page) pointed to the GFDL.

:The "Credit Wikipedia" thing seems fine to me, and as you may have seen I've created a counterpart "Template:Phantiswiki" on our side. However, there are GFDL purists who might insist that the transfer is only valid if a copy of the actual article history is stored at the new location. I'm personally not too enthusiastic about that idea, but the copyright mavens seem to want it that way... [[User:Fut.Perf.|Fut.Perf.]] 11:57, January 22, 2007 (EST)

== George Fteris ==
Hello, I have written an article on Wikipedia called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Iliada George Fteris], and I have also put it on Phantis, as you have already saw. It is not done yet, but what does it need to be complete? Thanks, --[[User:Iliada|Iliada]] 13:16, February 13, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
What do you mean it bears the nae Akrogiali? I wrote the article, and I chose a random member from Phantis to help me transform it into Phantis format. I'd love to help more! --[[User:Iliada|Iliada]] 10:24, February 17, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
Can we change the name of the writer?

User talk:Iliada

2009-02-17T17:48:22Z

Iliada:

== Fteris ==

Hello Iliada,

I like the Phantis Fteris article very much, however, it bears the name of Akrogiali. I take it was a joint effort between the two of you? Btw, how do you know of him? I never heard of him before. Are you from his home town? Originally, that was our intention here to have people contribute general knowledge but also personal knowledge (famous relatives, your home town, etc). Please feel free to contribute to this site. We could use more help around here! --[[User:Irlandos|Irlandos]] 17:57, February 13, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
What do you mean it bears the nae Akrogiali? I wrote the article, and I chose a random member from Phantis to help me transform it into Phantis format. I'd love to help more!

I meant that akrogiali wrote it. The Fteris article bears his name as the author. Thanks for the offer to help! It doesn't have to be much, just something on your home town or other subjects you are well-acquainted with. --[[User:Irlandos|Irlandos]] 10:36, February 17, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
is there a way that we can change the name of the writer?

User talk:Irlandos

2009-02-17T15:24:09Z

Iliada:

User talk:Irlandos

2009-02-17T15:23:57Z

Iliada:

User talk:64.140.202.231

2009-02-16T17:44:11Z

Iliada: New page: == TEST ==

== TEST ==

User talk:Iliada

2009-02-16T15:31:47Z

Iliada: Fixing error

User talk:Iliada

2009-02-16T01:05:39Z

Iliada:

== User ==
<nowiki>Akrogiali</nowiki>

== Fteris ==

Hello Iliada,

I like the Phantis Fteris article very much, however, it bears the name of Akrogiali. I take it was a joint effort between the two of you? Btw, how do you know of him? I never heard of him before. Are you from his home town? Originally, that was our intention here to have people contribute general knowledge but also personal knowledge (famous relatives, your home town, etc). Please feel free to contribute to this site. We could use more help around here! --[[User:Irlandos|Irlandos]] 17:57, February 13, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
What do you mean it bears the nae Akrogiali? I wrote the article, and I chose a random member from Phantis to help me transform it into Phantis format. I'd love to help more!

User talk:Irlandos

2009-02-13T18:16:35Z

Iliada:

User talk:Irlandos

2009-02-13T18:16:01Z

Iliada: Adding comment

To Vima

2009-02-11T14:13:59Z

Iliada: Fixing language

'''''To Vima''''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]:'''''Το ΒΗΜΑ''''' - The Podium) is a Greek daily newspaper first published in [[1922]] by Dimitris Lambrakis, the father of Christos Lambrakis, current head of the company. It is owned by [[Lambrakis Press]] that also publishes the newspaper [[Ta Nea]] and many other publications.

"To Vima" is a high profile newspaper in Greece. It is published every day, except on Mondays. Its flagship is the Sunday edition whose current managing editor is Stavros Psycharis.

The newspaper features as its columnists some prominent journalists within the Greek media including Yiannis Pretenteris and Vasilis Moulopoulos. Some of the newspaper's regular columnists include university professors (for example [[Konstantinos Tsoukalas]], [[Nikos Mouzelis]] or [[Dimitris Psychogios]] who contributes under a nom-de-plume), political scientists and several politicians.

The Sunday edition of the newspaper used to be a staple of Greek press, although today it sometimes trails the more radical [[Eleftherotypia]] or [[To Proto Thema]].

"To Vima", by Greek standards, is considered left-of-center and is politically aligned with the Greek socialist party [[PASOK]] - indeed this also applies to all the publications of Lambrakis Press. A number of its former editors eventually were appointed to key ministerial positions, such as Petros Efthimiou and Georgos Romeos. It is also not uncommon for some of its journalists to stand for parliament - mostly with PASOK.

==External links==
*[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/front_page.php ''To Vima'' web site. Contains searchable index of the Sunday editions since 1996 (in Greek)]
*[http://digital.tovima.gr Digital edition in PDF of the daily and the Sunday edition (in Greek). Registration required.]
*[http://www.dol.gr/e_ekd_bima.htm Information about the site (in English)]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Companies of Greece]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek-language newspapers]]

User talk:Lazarus

2009-02-11T14:01:16Z

Iliada: New page: == Sophia Vembo == Hello, I am writing a Wikipedia page about George Fteris, the man who wrote Sophia Vembo's song Η Χωριάτα. I would like to use the first picture of Vembo that y...

== Sophia Vembo ==
Hello, I am writing a Wikipedia page about George Fteris, the man who wrote Sophia Vembo's song Η Χωριάτα. I would like to use the first picture of Vembo that you uploaded, but I need to know if it is public domain. Thanks, --[[User:Iliada|Iliada]] 09:01, February 11, 2009 (EST)

Sophia Vembo

2009-02-11T13:59:01Z

Iliada:

[[Image:Vembo-01.jpg|thumb|190px|Sophia Vembo]]
[[Image:Vembo-02.jpg|thumb|190px|Labeled ''The Singer of Victory'' for her spirit-lifting singing]]
'''Sophia Vembo''' was a Greek singer and actress of the first half of the 20th Century.

Vembo was born Sophia "Efie" Bembo on [[February 10]], [[1910]] in [[Adrianople]], [[Eastern Thrace]]. She came with her family to [[Greece]] after the [[Asia Minor Disaster]] of [[1922]]. The family first settled in [[Tsaritsani]] and later in [[Volos]], [[Thessaly]].

Sophia Vembo started performing in the [[1930s]] as a stage actress and as a singer for Columbia Records Company. She sang love songs of that era and became popular however, she truly exploded on the scene when [[World War II]] broke out. Her songs, praising Greek soldiers and mocking Benito Mussolini raised the morale of soldiers and civilians alike and earned her the nickname "The Singer of Victory". When the Germans entered [[Athens]] in [[1941]], Vembo escaped to the Middle East where she continued to do her part for the war effort.

After the war, Vembo acquired a theatre for the performances of her group. In [[1957]] she married [[Mimis Traiforos]] after a very lengthy romance. During the [[1960s]], she cut down on her theatre performances and finally stopped them altogether by [[1970]].

In November, [[1973]] during the anti-[[Junta]] protests, Vembo hid several protesters in her house and refused to surrender them to the authorities.

Sophia Vembo died on [[March 11]], [[1978]].

==Hit Songs==
*Ζεχρά - Zehra
*Κάποιος κάπου κάποτε - Someone, somewhere, some time
*Κάτι με τραβά κοντά σου - Something draws me to you
*Κρασί - Wine
*Λόντρα, Παρίσι, Νιού Γιόρκ - London, Paris, New York
*Μ' αρέσει - I like it
*Μάρω, Μάρω - Maro, Maro
*Ραντεβού στην Αθήνα - Rendez-vous in Athens
*Σ’ αγαπώ και μ’ αρέσει η ζωή - I love you and I like life
*Ταμπακιέρα - Tobacco Tin
*Το πρωί με ξυπνάς με φιλιά - You awake me with kisses in the morning
*Χαράμι - Too bad
===War songs===
*Βάζει ο Ντούτσε τη στολή του - The Duce dons his Uniform
*Κορόιδο Μουσολίνι - Mussolini, you fool
*Στον πόλεμο βγαίνει ο Ιταλός - The Italian goes to War
*Η Χωριάτα - Village Woman

[[Category:1910 births|Vembo, Sophia]]
[[Category:1978 deaths|Vembo, Sophia]]
[[Category:Female Singers|Vembo, Sophia]]
[[Category:World War II|Vembo, Sophia]]

User talk:Iliada

2009-02-11T13:43:46Z

Iliada: New page: == User == <nowiki>Akrogiali</nowiki>

== User ==
<nowiki>Akrogiali</nowiki>

User talk:Akrogiali

2009-02-11T12:56:12Z

Iliada:

== Fteris ==
It seems like you have some knowledge of Wiki Phantis. Could you check out http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/User:Iliada
and see how I can rid ot of Wikipedia format into Phantis format? --[[User:Iliada|Iliada]] 15:35, February 10, 2009 (EST)

== Fteris ==
Ok, I fixed the photos. What did you mean about his name? --[[User:Iliada|Iliada]] 07:56, February 11, 2009 (EST)

File:Bust.jpg

2009-02-11T12:53:48Z

Iliada: The bust of George Fteris' head in his monument

The bust of George Fteris' head in his monument

User:Iliada

2009-02-11T12:52:44Z

Iliada:

[[Image:Ft.htm1.jpg.gif]]

'''George Fteris''' ([[Greek]]: Γεωργιος Φτερης), (born George Tsimbidaros, [[Greek]]: Γιώργος Τσιμπιδάρος), (born the 14th of September 1891; died 14th of September 14 1967), was a [[Greek]] journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and poet.

==Early life==
Fteris was born in [[Mani]], [[Greece]] ([[Greek]]: Μάνη), a remote, mountainous, barren peninsula located on the southern mainland of Greece, jutting out into the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. As much as he loved the simplicity of village life, Fteris longed to become educated. In order to do this, he had to leave behind his village and head for the city. A plaque on the ancestral home in Mani records his words, "This is my village. I was born and raised here in this old house with its small sad windows which look towards the road, the only road that has the enchanted privilege to lead out of the village''. He graduated from the [[University of Athens]] as a student of law, but instead decided to pursue a career in literature. He wrote for a variety of newspapers and magazines, under the pseudonym by which he is best known, George Fteris.

==Journalist==
For much of his life, Fteris served as a foreign correspondent. Initially stationed in Rome, and later in France, he traveled Europe meeting famous people such as Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]], whom Fteris interviewed many times. During his travels, he made many friends such as writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis|Nikos Kazantzakis]], sculptor [[Michael Tombros]], politician [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], actress [[Ellie Lambeti]], and even [[Pablo Picasso]].

Upon his return to Greece, he became the editor for [[The Athenian News]] as well as a journalist for [[To Vima]] newspaper. Every Sunday, he would write their main article. <ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>

==Translator==
In 1930, Fteris received a French Academy Award for his translation of ''[[Les Miserable]]'' from French into Greek.<ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>. In 1966, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Journalism by [[Constantine II of Greece]], ([[Greek]]: Κoνσταντινος B']]. This was a huge honor for Fteris and his family. He was honored many other times by the Greek government for his work in literature and journalism <ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>

==Author==
Fteris wrote various books and articles. His daughter Elyana Damianos said, ''“…his books were deep and difficult to understand because he wanted to make better people. The books used plain language, but had deep meanings. He didn’t want people reading garbage, but to search, to better one’s self, ask questions, and also make people smarter. Basically, to make a man think.”'' <ref>Damianos, John, ''Personal Interview with Elyana Damianos'', conducted 2008-05-02</ref>

==Horiata==
One of Fteris' greatest and most memorable accomplishments is a song called "Horiata" (Η Χωριάτα - "Village Woman"). In the winter of 1941-42, the first bitter winter of the German Occupation, he wrote an allegorical song and gave it to [[Sophia Vembo]], most popular songstress of the time and also family friend. She sang it in theaters all over Greece, each time wearing a dress with the national Greek colors on it. Even today, it is broadcast on national Greek radio stations. Commenting on the song over 35 years later one writer said, ''“It is a voice of hope and continuation. It resonated greatly in the hearts of the then enslaved people.”'' <ref> Panagiotis Petropouleas, Journal: Taygetos and Maniates, May, 1978</ref> In the song, Greece is represented as a village woman, and its youth as a budding tree.
[[Image:Vembo-01.jpg|thumb|139px|Sophia Vembo]]
During the time period, all patriotic songs were forbidden by the [[Nazi]]. Fteris knew this, and he wrote every verse of the song allegorically. His daughter said, ''“Each time it was sung, it electrified the audience. They heard the song and understood, so it gave them hope, and lifted them up emotionally. It scared the enemy, and it was like a threat.”''

Many people loved Fteris' song, and its message spread throughout Greece. Theaters would continually play it. But soon after, the Nazis seized control. The song was prohibited, and theaters were closed. A penalty was set for singing the song, and Nazis even came to Fteris’ home threatening him with arrest. Vembo continued to perform "Horiata" in her concerts in the Middle East and continued to inspire the Greek resistance movement. Even though the song had been stifled in Greece, the damage had been done. The once tired and hopeless Greeks fought on throughout [[World War II]] as the song says, “with new branches and limbs.”

[[Image:Monument.jpg|thumb|300px|His monument overlooking Mani]]

Fteris died on his birthday in 1967. Today his body lies in his homeland, Mani. On the road connecting the towns of [[Areopoli|Areopolis]] and [[Gytheio|Gythion]] a monument has been dedicated to him on the summit of a hill overlooking his favorite land. Though he left the limitations of village life behind as a teenager, he always kept Mani in his heart. He once wrote, "The memory of Mani; the stone and the air of Mani; I have always taken with me wherever I went like a keepsake." <ref>http://mani.org.gr/pnevma/fteris/ft.htm ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΦΤΕΡΗΣ</ref>. On his monument is a bust of his head sculpted by his friend Michael Tombros. On his shoulder, a woman representing Mani is weeping; mourning his death. His daughter Elyana said, ''“My father never wanted a monument because he was a very humble person, and he never believed in monuments; my mother insisted that he deserved one though.”''

== Quote ==

"“When I die and you are asked who I was, what I believed, whence I was inspired to write what I did - answer them that I was nothing more than a simple person who believed deeply in love, in goodness, and in humanity. And I will continue to believe until my final moments that humanity can be saved only by believing in these.”"

[[Image:Bust.jpg|The bust of his head]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Greek Journalists]]
[[Category:Greek writers]]
[[Category:People from Mani]]

User:Iliada

2009-02-11T12:52:27Z

Iliada: Adding photo

File:Monument.jpg

2009-02-11T12:51:23Z

Iliada: George Fteris' monument

George Fteris' monument

User:Iliada

2009-02-11T12:50:22Z

Iliada: Adding photo

[[Image:Ft.htm1.jpg.gif]]
'''George Fteris''' ([[Greek]]: Γεωργιος Φτερης), (born George Tsimbidaros, [[Greek]]: Γιώργος Τσιμπιδάρος), (born the 14th of September 1891; died 14th of September 14 1967), was a [[Greek]] journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and poet.

==Early life==
Fteris was born in [[Mani]], [[Greece]] ([[Greek]]: Μάνη), a remote, mountainous, barren peninsula located on the southern mainland of Greece, jutting out into the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. As much as he loved the simplicity of village life, Fteris longed to become educated. In order to do this, he had to leave behind his village and head for the city. A plaque on the ancestral home in Mani records his words, "This is my village. I was born and raised here in this old house with its small sad windows which look towards the road, the only road that has the enchanted privilege to lead out of the village''. He graduated from the [[University of Athens]] as a student of law, but instead decided to pursue a career in literature. He wrote for a variety of newspapers and magazines, under the pseudonym by which he is best known, George Fteris.

==Journalist==
For much of his life, Fteris served as a foreign correspondent. Initially stationed in Rome, and later in France, he traveled Europe meeting famous people such as Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]], whom Fteris interviewed many times. During his travels, he made many friends such as writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis|Nikos Kazantzakis]], sculptor [[Michael Tombros]], politician [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], actress [[Ellie Lambeti]], and even [[Pablo Picasso]].

Upon his return to Greece, he became the editor for [[The Athenian News]] as well as a journalist for [[To Vima]] newspaper. Every Sunday, he would write their main article. <ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>

==Translator==
In 1930, Fteris received a French Academy Award for his translation of ''[[Les Miserable]]'' from French into Greek.<ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>. In 1966, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Journalism by [[Constantine II of Greece]], ([[Greek]]: Κoνσταντινος B']]. This was a huge honor for Fteris and his family. He was honored many other times by the Greek government for his work in literature and journalism <ref> Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband), by Rhea Pteris, Published by Difros, Athens</ref>

==Author==
Fteris wrote various books and articles. His daughter Elyana Damianos said, ''“…his books were deep and difficult to understand because he wanted to make better people. The books used plain language, but had deep meanings. He didn’t want people reading garbage, but to search, to better one’s self, ask questions, and also make people smarter. Basically, to make a man think.”'' <ref>Damianos, John, ''Personal Interview with Elyana Damianos'', conducted 2008-05-02</ref>

==Horiata==
One of Fteris' greatest and most memorable accomplishments is a song called "Horiata" (Η Χωριάτα - "Village Woman"). In the winter of 1941-42, the first bitter winter of the German Occupation, he wrote an allegorical song and gave it to [[Sophia Vembo]], most popular songstress of the time and also family friend. She sang it in theaters all over Greece, each time wearing a dress with the national Greek colors on it. Even today, it is broadcast on national Greek radio stations. Commenting on the song over 35 years later one writer said, ''“It is a voice of hope and continuation. It resonated greatly in the hearts of the then enslaved people.”'' <ref> Panagiotis Petropouleas, Journal: Taygetos and Maniates, May, 1978</ref> In the song, Greece is represented as a village woman, and its youth as a budding tree.
[[Image:Vembo-01.jpg|thumb|139px|Sophia Vembo]]
During the time period, all patriotic songs were forbidden by the [[Nazi]]. Fteris knew this, and he wrote every verse of the song allegorically. His daughter said, ''“Each time it was sung, it electrified the audience. They heard the song and understood, so it gave them hope, and lifted them up emotionally. It scared the enemy, and it was like a threat.”''

Many people loved Fteris' song, and its message spread throughout Greece. Theaters would continually play it. But soon after, the Nazis seized control. The song was prohibited, and theaters were closed. A penalty was set for singing the song, and Nazis even came to Fteris’ home threatening him with arrest. Vembo continued to perform "Horiata" in her concerts in the Middle East and continued to inspire the Greek resistance movement. Even though the song had been stifled in Greece, the damage had been done. The once tired and hopeless Greeks fought on throughout [[World War II]] as the song says, “with new branches and limbs.”

[[Image:Monument.jpg|thumb|300px|His monument overlooking Mani]]

Fteris died on his birthday in 1967. Today his body lies in his homeland, Mani. On the road connecting the towns of [[Areopoli|Areopolis]] and [[Gytheio|Gythion]] a monument has been dedicated to him on the summit of a hill overlooking his favorite land. Though he left the limitations of village life behind as a teenager, he always kept Mani in his heart. He once wrote, "The memory of Mani; the stone and the air of Mani; I have always taken with me wherever I went like a keepsake." <ref>http://mani.org.gr/pnevma/fteris/ft.htm ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΦΤΕΡΗΣ</ref>. On his monument is a bust of his head sculpted by his friend Michael Tombros. On his shoulder, a woman representing Mani is weeping; mourning his death. His daughter Elyana said, ''“My father never wanted a monument because he was a very humble person, and he never believed in monuments; my mother insisted that he deserved one though.”''

== Quote ==

"“When I die and you are asked who I was, what I believed, whence I was inspired to write what I did - answer them that I was nothing more than a simple person who believed deeply in love, in goodness, and in humanity. And I will continue to believe until my final moments that humanity can be saved only by believing in these.”"

[[Image:Bust.jpg|The bust of his head]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Greek Journalists]]
[[Category:Greek writers]]
[[Category:People from Mani]]

File:Ft.htm1.jpg.gif

2009-02-11T12:49:19Z

Iliada: George Fteris

George Fteris

User talk:Akrogiali

2009-02-10T20:35:19Z

Iliada: New page: == Fteris == It seems like you have some knowledge of Wiki Phantis. Could you check out http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/User:Iliada and see how I can rid ot of Wikipedia format into Phan...

User:Iliada

2009-02-10T20:30:43Z

Iliada: George Fteris

{{Infobox Writer 
| name = George Tsimbidaros (Fteris)
| image = Ft.htm1.jpg.gif
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = George Fteris
| pseudonym = George Fteris
| birthdate = [[September 14]], [[1891]]
| birthplace = [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|25px|Country flag]] [[Mani]], [[Greece]]
| deathdate = [[September 14]], [[1967]]
| deathplace =
| occupation = [[Writer]], [[foreign correspondent]], [[translator]]
| nationality = [[Greece|Greek]]
| period =
|spouse = Rhea Fteris
|children = Elyana Damianos
| genre =
| subject =
| movement =
| influences =
| influenced =
| signature =
| website =
}}

'''George Fteris,''' born George Tsimbidaros (Greek: Γιώργος Τσιμπιδάρος) [[September 14]], [[1891]]; (died [[September 14]], [[1967]]) was a [[Greek language|Greek]] journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and poet.

==Early life==
Fteris was born in [[Mani Peninsula|Mani]] (Μάνη), Greece. Mani is a remote, mountainous, barren peninsula located on the southern mainland of Greece, jutting out into the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. As much as he loved the simplicity of village life, Fteris longed to become educated. In order to do this, he had to leave behind his village and head for the city. A plaque on the ancestral home in Mani records his words, {{cquote|''"This is my village. I was born and raised here in this old house with its small sad windows which look towards the road, the only road that has the enchanted privilege to lead out of the village.”''}} He graduated from the [[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens|University of Athens]] as a student of law, but instead decided to pursue a career in literature. He wrote for a variety of newspapers and magazines, under the pseudonym by which he is best known, George Fteris. (pronounced {{IPA|[[Help:IPA for English|/dʒɔː(ɹ)dʒ ftɛɚiːs/]]}})

==Journalist==
For much of his life, Fteris served as a foreign correspondent. Initially stationed in Rome, and later in France, he traveled Europe meeting famous people such as Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]], whom Fteris interviewed many times. During his travels, he made many friends such as writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis|Nikos Kazantzakis]], sculptor [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Tombros Michael Tombros], politician [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], actress [[Ellie Lambeti]], and even
[[Pablo Picasso]].

Upon his return to Greece, he became the editor for [[The Athenian News]] as well as a journalist for [[The Vima]] newspaper. Every Sunday, he would write their main article. <ref name=RheaFteris>{{citebook|last=Fteris|first=Rhea|title=Δίπλα στον Αντρα μου (Next to my Husband)|language=Greek|publisher=Difros|location=Athens}}</ref>

==Translator==
In 1930, Fteris received a French Academy Award for his translation of ''[[Les Miserable]]'' from French into Greek.<ref name=RheaFteris/> In 1966, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Journalism by [[Constantine II of Greece|King Constantine II]]. This was a huge honor for Fteris and his family. He was honored many other times by the Greek government for his work in literature and journalism<ref name=RheaFteris/>

==Author==
Fteris wrote various books and articles. His daughter Elyana Damianos said, ''“…his books were deep and difficult to understand because he wanted to make better people. The books used plain language, but had deep meanings. He didn’t want people reading garbage, but to search, to better one’s self, ask questions, and also make people smarter. Basically, to make a man think.”'' <ref>Damianos, John, ''Personal Interview with Elyana Damianos'', conducted 2008-05-02</ref>

{{Listen
|filename =Horiata.ogg
|title = Horiata
|description = Horiata sung by Sophia Vembo
}}
==Horiata==
One of Fteris' greatest and most memorable accomplishments is a song called "Horiata" (Η Χωριάτα - "Village Woman"). In the winter of 1941-42, the first bitter winter of the German Occupation, he wrote an allegorical song and gave it to [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Sophia_Vembo&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSophia%2BVembo%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG| Sophia Vembo], most popular songstress of the time and also family friend. She sang it in theaters all over Greece, each time wearing a dress with the national Greek colors on it. Even today, it is broadcast on national Greek radio stations. Commenting on the song over 35 years later one writer said, ''“It is a voice of hope and continuation. It resonated greatly in the hearts of the then enslaved people.”'' <ref name="Panagiotis Petropouleas, Taygetos and Maniates">{{citejournal|last=Petropouleas|first=Panagiotis|date=May, 1978|journal=Taygetos and Maniates |location=Mani, Greece|language=Greek}}</ref> In the song, Greece is represented as a village woman, and its youth as a budding tree.
[[Image:Vembo-01.jpg|thumb|139px|Sophia Vembo]]
During the time period, all patriotic songs were forbidden by the [[Nazism|Nazis]]. Fteris knew this, and he wrote every verse of the song allegorically. His daughter said, ''“Each time it was sung, it electrified the audience. They heard the song and understood, so it gave them hope, and lifted them up emotionally. It scared the enemy, and it was like a threat.”''

Many people loved Fteris' song, and its message spread throughout Greece. Theaters would continually play it. But soon after, the Nazis seized control. The song was prohibited, and theaters were closed. A penalty was set for singing the song, and Nazis even came to Fteris’ home threatening him with arrest. Vembo continued to perform "Horiata" in her concerts in the Middle East and continued to inspire the Greek resistance movement. Even though the song had been stifled in Greece, the damage had been done. The once tired and hopeless Greeks fought on throughout [[World War II|WWII]] as the song says, “with new branches and limbs.”

[[Image:Monument.jpg|thumb|300px|His monument overlooking Mani]]

Fteris died on his birthday in 1967. Today his body lies in his homeland, Mani. On the road connecting the towns of [[Areopoli|Areopolis]] and [[Gytheio|Gythion]] a monument has been dedicated to him on the summit of a hill overlooking his favorite land. Though he left the limitations of village life behind as a teenager, he always kept Mani in his heart. He once wrote, {{cquote|''“The memory of Mani; the stone and the air of Mani; I have always taken with me wherever I went like a keepsake.”''}}<ref>{{cite web|url= http://mani.org.gr/pnevma/fteris/ft.htm |title=ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΦΤΕΡΗΣ |last=Βενιζελέας |first=Γ.Η.|language=Greek}}</ref> On his monument is a bust of his head sculpted by his friend Michael Tombros. On his shoulder, a woman representing Mani is weeping; mourning his death. His daughter Elyana said, ''“My father never wanted a monument because he was a very humble person, and he never believed in monuments; my mother insisted that he deserved one though.”''

== Quote ==

<blockquote>“When I die and you are asked who I was, what I believed, whence I was inspired to write what I did - answer them that I was nothing more than a simple person who believed deeply in love, in goodness, and in humanity. And I will continue to believe until my final moments that humanity can be saved only by believing in these.”
</blockquote>

<gallery>Image: Bust.jpg.jpg|The bust of his head</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>