January 18

Events

• 532: The Nika riots are put down by General Belisarius. 30,000 rioters are slain in Constantinople.
• 1957 - EOKA guerilla fighter, Markos Drakos, is ambushed and slain by the British at Solea, Cyprus.
• 1996 - Costas Simitis becomes leader of PASOK and Prime Minister of Greece

Births

• 1915: Vassilis Tsitsanis

Deaths

• 474: Leo I, Byzantine emperor
• 1957 - Markos Drakos
• 1984 - Vassilis Tsitsanis
• 1998: Paul Tsongas, Greek-American politician.

Namesday

• Saint Athanasius