12 Facts About Grigoris Afxentiou

Grigoris Pieris Afxentiou was a Greek-Cypriot insurgent leader who led campaigns against the British colonial government as a member of EOKA.

Grigoris Afxentiou was second-in-command to general Georgios Grivas and used the pseudonym Zidhros, the name of a famous 18th-century brigand.

Grigoris Afxentiou attended Lysi Primary School and received his secondary education at the Hellenic Gymnasium in Famagusta.

Grigoris Afxentiou left for Greece, where he was unsuccessful in gaining a place at the Hellenic Military Academy in Athens.

Grigoris Afxentiou then served with the Hellenic Army on the Greek-Bulgarian frontier, as a second lieutenant, before returning to Cyprus and joining the EOKA struggle.

Grigoris Afxentiou was discharged from the ranks of the Greek Army on 15 November 1953 and returned to Cyprus, where he helped his father with his business by working as a taxi driver.

Grigoris Afxentiou joined the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters where he soon became second-in-command, adjutant to EOKA leader Georgios Grivas.

Grigoris Afxentiou was originally assigned the regional command of the district of Famagusta which he knew well.

Grigoris Afxentiou was well liked by his peers and it did not take long for General Grivas to promote him to Commander of the Kyrenia district.

Grigoris Afxentiou was very active in the Pentadaktylos range as well as Mount Troodos.

In December 1955, Grigoris Afxentiou was relocated on orders of General Grivas to the Troodos mountain range and the General's hideout at Spilia, which led to Grigoris Afxentiou's involvement in the Battle of Spilia.

Grigoris Afxentiou then used his submachine gun to kill a corporal of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment before dying after the Royal Engineers poured petrol down the slope into the dugout and set it on fire.