Dionysios Zakythinos
Encyclopedia
Dionysios A. Zakythinos or Zakythenos ' onMouseout='HidePop("33577")' href="/topics/Lixouri">Lixouri
, Kefalonia
1905 – Athens
, 18 January 1993) was a leading Greek
Byzantinist.
Zakythinos was born in Kefalonia
in 1905. After graduating from the University of Athens in 1927, he went to the Sorbonne
, which at the time was a major center of Byzantine studies with scholars like Charles Diehl
and Ferdinand Lot
. His first major work was a detailed study of the late Byzantine Despotate of the Morea, published in French (Le despotat grec de Morée (1262–1460)) in two volumes, one in 1932 and the other, delayed by World War II
, in 1953. From 1939 to 1970 he taught Byzantine and Modern Greek History in the University of Athens (among his students there were Angeliki Laiou
and Nikolaos Oikonomides
), while in 1937–1946 he directed the Greek State Archives. He also taught modern Greek history in the Panteion University
from 1951 to 1965, served as vice-chairman of the National Research Foundation in 1958 and was the first director of the Byzantine Research Institute from its foundation in 1960 to 1975. The Academy of Athens
elected him as a full member in 1966, and Zakythinos went on to serve as its president in 1974. Zakythinos was also a Foreign Fellow of the British Academy
. In 1971–76 he served as chairman of the International Association of Byzantine Studies (AIEB), and thereafter as its honorary president.
Zakythinos also served briefly as Minister to the Prime Minister in the interim 1963–64 government of Ioannis Paraskevopoulos
, while after the fall
of the Regime of the Colonels, he was elected to the Greek Parliament in the November 1974 elections
, on the list of the conservative New Democracy
party, serving until 1977. He died on 18 January 1993 in Athens.
Lixouri
Lixouri is the main town on the peninsula of Paliki in the island of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of western Greece. Lixouri is the second largest community in Kefalonia after Argostoli and before Sami and is the capital of the small peninsula...
, Kefalonia
Kefalonia
The island of Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia , is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of . It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit...
1905 – Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, 18 January 1993) was a leading Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Byzantinist.
Zakythinos was born in Kefalonia
Kefalonia
The island of Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia , is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of . It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit...
in 1905. After graduating from the University of Athens in 1927, he went to the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, which at the time was a major center of Byzantine studies with scholars like Charles Diehl
Charles Diehl
Charles Diehl was a French historian who was a native of Strasbourg. He was a leading authority on Byzantine art and history....
and Ferdinand Lot
Ferdinand Lot
Ferdinand Victor Henri Lot was a French historian and medievalist....
. His first major work was a detailed study of the late Byzantine Despotate of the Morea, published in French (Le despotat grec de Morée (1262–1460)) in two volumes, one in 1932 and the other, delayed by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1953. From 1939 to 1970 he taught Byzantine and Modern Greek History in the University of Athens (among his students there were Angeliki Laiou
Angeliki Laiou
- Life :Laiou was born in Athens on 6 April 1941 to a Pontic family, refugees from the Black Sea coast of modern Turkey. She studied at the Athens College and continued her studies in the Philosophy School of the University of Athens , where she studied under the Greek Byzantinist Dionysios...
and Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos or Nikos Oikonomides was a Greek-Canadian Byzantinist, and one of the leading experts in the field of Byzantine administration.- Biography :Oikonomides was born in Athens....
), while in 1937–1946 he directed the Greek State Archives. He also taught modern Greek history in the Panteion University
Panteion University
The Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences , usually referred to simply as the Panteion University, is a university located in Athens, Greece...
from 1951 to 1965, served as vice-chairman of the National Research Foundation in 1958 and was the first director of the Byzantine Research Institute from its foundation in 1960 to 1975. The Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
elected him as a full member in 1966, and Zakythinos went on to serve as its president in 1974. Zakythinos was also a Foreign Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
. In 1971–76 he served as chairman of the International Association of Byzantine Studies (AIEB), and thereafter as its honorary president.
Zakythinos also served briefly as Minister to the Prime Minister in the interim 1963–64 government of Ioannis Paraskevopoulos
Ioannis Paraskevopoulos
Ioannis Paraskevopoulos , was a Greek banker and politician who served twice as interim Prime Minister of Greece during the 1960s. He was born in Lavda, Olympia....
, while after the fall
Metapolitefsi
The Metapolitefsi was a period in Greek history after the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 that includes the transitional period from the fall of the dictatorship to the Greek legislative elections of 1974 and the democratic period immediately after these elections.The long...
of the Regime of the Colonels, he was elected to the Greek Parliament in the November 1974 elections
Greek legislative election, 1974
The first free elections since 1964 and after the end of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974 took place in Greece on November 17, 1974 during the metapolitefsi....
, on the list of the conservative New Democracy
New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy is the main centre-right political party and one of the two major parties in Greece. It was founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis and formed the first cabinet of the Third Hellenic Republic...
party, serving until 1977. He died on 18 January 1993 in Athens.