Pericles was an influential and prominent Greek statesman and orator. He also served as the general of Athens during fifth-century Athens, which came to be known as the Golden Age of Athens. Thanks to his efforts, Athens became known as the cultural and educational center of the ancient Greek world. Pericles is also credited with beautifying and protecting the city.
The 5th-century BC warrior politician Themistocles has gone down in history as one of the first to consolidate the Athenian navy. He is remembered for his victories in wars such as the Battle of Salamis. His exploits have been immortalized in movies such as 300: Rise of an Empire.
Muhammad Ali of Egypt was the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848. He was also the Albanian Ottoman governor and is considered the founder of modern Egypt. He implemented drastic reforms in the military, economic and cultural spheres in Egypt. He established the Muhammad Ali dynasty that ruled Egypt until the revolution of 1952.
Seleucus I Nicator was Alexander the Great’s right hand in his fight against Porus in India. He became the Babylonian governor after Alexander’s death and eventually formed the Seleucid empire. His conflict with Chandragupta Maurya ended with a marital alliance, and he secured his ties by sending Megasthenes to Pataliputra.
![Hephaestion Hephaestion](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/hephaestion-1.jpg)
Hephaestion was an ancient Macedonian army general and nobleman who served under Alexander the Great. A close ally of Alexander the Great, Hephaestion shared all his secrets with the former and their relationship has been compared to that of Patroclus and Achilles. Hephaestion has been portrayed in many films such as the 2004 epic historical drama film Alexander.
After losing his father as a child, Alcibiades came under the tutelage of Socrates. He was known for his shifting allegiance, siding with Athens first, and then Sparta, during the Peloponnesian War. He was known to win wars more with his deceptive means than his military tactics.
![Eleuthérios Venizélos Eleuthérios Venizélos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/eleuthrios-venizlos-1.jpg)
Eleuthérios Venizélos was a Greek statesman who played a prominent role in the Greek national liberation movement. He served as the Prime Minister of Greece on eight occasions between 1910 and 1933. As a politician, he contributed immensely to the expansion of Greece. Eleuthérios Venizelos is often called the Maker of Modern Greece due to his influence on the country.
![Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alexis-tsipras-14891-1.jpg)
Alexis Tsipras is a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of the country from 2015 to 2019. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The current Leader of the Opposition, Alexis Tsipras has also been serving as the president of Syriza, the left wing political party in Greece . In 2015, he was named among 100 most influential people by Time.
![Miltiades Miltiades](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/miltiades-the-younger-1.jpg)
Miltiades the Younger was a Greek Athenian military leader who served as an eponymous archon of Athens from 524 to 523 BC. He is best remembered for playing a major role in the Battle of Marathon against the invading Persian force. The battle resulted in the crushing defeat of the Persians and gave rise to the famous Greco-Persian Wars.
![Yanis Varoufakis Yanis Varoufakis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/yanis-varoufakis-1.jpg)
Yanis Varoufakis is a Greek-Australian economist and politician who served as minister of finance for a few months in 2015 under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Essex. He began a career in academic economics before entering politics. Along with US Senator Bernie Sanders, he launched the Progressive International.
![Katerina Sakellaropoulou Katerina Sakellaropoulou](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/katerina-sakellaropoulou-1.jpg)
Greek judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who specializes in environmental and constitutional law, became the first female president of Greece back in 2020. Previously, she has also been the first female president of the Council of State, the highest administrative court in her country. She also regularly contributes to various academic journals.
![Cleisthenes Cleisthenes](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/cleisthenes-1.jpg)
An ancient Athenian legislator, Cleisthenes is often referred to as the father of Athenian democracy. He not only served as the chief archon, or the top-most magistrate, of Athens, but also transformed the Athenian constitution and made it more democratic. He is believed to have introduced ostracism as a punishment.
![Lysander Lysander](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lysander-1.jpg)
Lysander was a Spartan political and military leader. He is best remembered for destroying the Athenian fleet in 405 BC at the Battle of Aegospotami, forcing Athens to surrender. His actions helped bring the Peloponnesian War to an end. Lysander went on to play an important role in Sparta's domination of Greece until his death in 395 BC.
![Georgios Papadopoulos Georgios Papadopoulos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/georgios-papadopoulos-1.jpg)
Georgios Papadopoulos was a Greek soldier remembered for leading a military coup d'état in Greece in 1967, which led to a regime of the colonels that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. After seizing power in 1967, Papadopoulos remained Greece's dictator until 1973, when he was overthrown by Dimitrios Ioannidis. Papadopoulos also played an important role during World War II.
![Kyriakos Mitsotakis Kyriakos Mitsotakis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kyriakos-mitsotakis-1.jpg)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a Greek politician who has been serving as the president of the New Democracy political party since 2016. The current Prime Minister of Greece, Mitsotakis also served as the Minister of Administrative Reform between 2013 and 2015. He is also one of the most controversial leaders, having been associated with the Siemens Greek bribery scandal in 2007.
![Ioannis Kapodistrias Ioannis Kapodistrias](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ioannis-kapodistrias-1.jpg)
Ioannis Kapodistrias was a Greek statesman who served as the first Governor of Greece from 1828 to 1831. One of the most distinguished diplomats and politicians of Europe, Kapodistrias had served as the Foreign Minister of Russia from 1816 to 1822. Considered an architect of Greek independence, Ioannis Kapodistrias is also regarded as the founder of the modern Greek state.
![Lycurgus Lycurgus](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lycurgus-1.jpg)
![Gorgoneion Gorgoneion](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/gorgoneion-1.jpg)
![Ioannis Metaxas Ioannis Metaxas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ioannis-metaxas.jpg)
Greek military general Ioannis Metaxas also served as the prime minister of Greece during what is known as a dictatorial regime. He had been part of the Balkan Wars. Though appointed the country’s minister of army affairs initially, he began his dictatorship, or the Fourth of August Regime, on August 4, 1936.
![Lysimachus Lysimachus](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lysimachus-1.jpg)
The king of Thrace and the successor of Alexander the Great, Lysimachus was initially a Macedonian general and one of the bodyguards of Alexander during his invasion in Asia. On the insistence of his third wife, Arsinoe II, he executed his eldest son, Agathocles, but was eventually killed by Seleucus.
![Theodoros Kolokotronis Theodoros Kolokotronis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/theodoros-kolokotronis-1.jpg)
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek general and the greatest leader of the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottoman Empire. He is credited with defeating Mahmud Dramali Pasha's Ottoman army at the Battle of Dervenakia, which is widely regarded as Kolokotronis' greatest success. Today, Theodoros Kolokotronis is ranked among the most important figures in the Greek War of Independence.
![Nikolaos Michaloliakos Nikolaos Michaloliakos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/nikolaos-michaloliakos.jpg)
Nikolaos Michaloliakos is a Greek politician best known for founding and leading the far-right political party Golden Dawn. A convicted criminal, Michaloliakos and 67 other political leaders from his party, were found guilty by the Athens Appeals Court of leading a criminal organization.
![Cleon Cleon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/cleon-1.jpg)
Cleon was an Athenian general who played an important role during the Peloponnesian War. Although he is often portrayed in a negative way, Cleon is best remembered for his compassion towards the poorer citizens which helped increase his popularity; he increased the pay for jury work, providing a livelihood for many poor Athenians.
![Epaminondas Epaminondas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/epaminondas-1.jpg)
Epaminondas was a Greek statesman who is credited with transforming the Ancient Greek city-state and reshaping the political map of Greece. Epaminondas, who served as the general of Thebes, was an influential military figure who invented many important battlefield tactics. His actions led to the defeat of the Spartans and the liberation of the Messenian helots.
![Prokopis Pavlopoulos Prokopis Pavlopoulos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/prokopis-pavlopoulos-13569-1.jpg)
New Democracy member Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who has served as the president of Greece, is also a former minister of the interior. Born to a teacher, he initially studied law and then served in the Hellenic Army, before eventually joining the faculty of law at the University of Athens.
![Eva Kaili Eva Kaili](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/eva-kaili-1.jpg)
Eva Kaili is a Greek politician and former television news presenter. Since 2014, Kaili has been serving as an important Member of the European Parliament. She is also the current Vice-President of the European Parliament, after having assumed office on 18 January 2022.
![George Papandreou George Papandreou](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/george-papandreou-1.jpg)
George Papandreou is a Greek politician who is currently serving as the President of the Socialist International (SI). From 2009 to 2011, he served as the Prime Minister of Greece. He has also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions.
![Andreas Papandreou Andreas Papandreou](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/andreas-papandreou-1.jpg)
Andreas Papandreou was a Greek politician and economist. An influential political figure, Papandreou is credited with founding PASOK, a political party which he led between 1974 and 1996. Andreas Papandreou also served as the Prime Minister of Greece on two occasions. He is also remembered for popularizing turtleneck sweaters among his political supporters, causing an uproar among his political foes.
![Georgios Papandreou Georgios Papandreou](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/georgios-papandreou-1.jpg)
Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece on three occasions between 1944 and 1965. Papandreou, whose illustrious political career spanned over 50 years, is also credited with founding the Papandreou political dynasty. Georgios Papandreou was also counted among the best orators in Greece.
![Perdiccas Perdiccas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/perdiccas-1.jpg)
Perdiccas was a general who served under Alexander the Great. He was part of Alexander's campaign against Achaemenid Persia, where he played an important role. After Alexander the Great's death, Perdiccas served as regent of the Macedonian empire and became the supreme commander of the imperial army.
![Brasidas Brasidas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/brasidas-1.jpg)
Brasidas was a Spartan military officer who achieved popularity during the first decade of the famous Peloponnesian War. He fought in the battle of Pylos and Amphipolis and died in the Second Battle of Amphipolis before leading his troop to a spectacular victory in the battle.
Former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras was born into an affluent family and had even won the Greek Teen Tennis Championship at 17. He boasts of a Harvard MBA and, as a New Democracy party member, has held several ministerial positions. He had founded the short-lived political party Political Spring.
![Ivan Savvidis Ivan Savvidis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ivan-savvidis-28468-1.jpg)
Ivan Savvidis is a Russian-Greek politician and businessman best known for his close association with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A former member of the Russian Parliament, Savvidis is currently one of Russia's wealthiest men.
![Cimon Cimon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kimon-1.jpg)
Cimon was an Athenian statesman in mid-5th century BC Greece. Also a general, Cimon played an important role in building the dominant Athenian maritime empire. His military prowess exhibited in various battles, including the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of the Eurymedon river, established him as a celebrated military hero.
![Aristides Aristides](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/aristides-1.jpg)
Aristides was an Athenian statesman remembered for his impact as a general in the Persian War. Aristides has been mentioned by the ancient historian Herodotus as "the best and most honourable man in Athens." A statue of Aristides stands tall at Louisburg Square, Boston, USA. Charles Brocas' 1806 painting of Aristides is preserved at the Musée des Augustins in France.
![Ian Hamilton Ian Hamilton](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ian-hamilton-1.jpg)
![Konstantinos Karamanlis Konstantinos Karamanlis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/konstantinos-karamanlis-1.jpg)
Konstantinos Karamanlis had been a 2-time president and 4-time prime minister of Greece. A qualified lawyer, he stepped into politics with the Populist Party and held important cabinet posts, such as that of the minister of labor. His efforts led to Greece joining the European Economic Community.
![Agesilaus II Agesilaus II](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/agesilaus-ii-1.jpg)
Agesilaus II reigned as the king of Sparta from 399 to 358 BC. Widely regarded as the most prominent king in the Spartan history, Agesilaus II played a vital role during the Spartan hegemony period that followed the Peloponnesian War. Although he was small in stature, Agesilaus' guerrilla warfare tactics and his bravery was seldom questioned during his time.
![Critias Critias](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/critias-1.jpg)
Critias was an ancient Athenian author and political figure. He is best remembered as one of the leading members of the infamous pro-Spartan oligarchy, The Thirty Tyrants. As an author, Critias is remembered for his prose works, elegies, and tragedies.
![Herodes Atticus Herodes Atticus](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/herodes-atticus-1.jpg)
Herodes Atticus was an Athenian philanthropic magnate and rhetorician who taught rhetoric to Roman emperors Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius. Also among his students were Polydeukes, Memnon, and Achilles. Widely regarded as one of the most popular personalities of the Antonine Period, Herodes Atticus also served as a Roman senator.
![Laskarina Bouboulina Laskarina Bouboulina](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/laskarina-bouboulina-1.jpg)
![Konstantinos Mitsotakis Konstantinos Mitsotakis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/konstantinos-mitsotakis-1.jpg)
Konstantinos Mitsotakis was a Greek politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions; from 1980 to 1981 and then in 1992. From 1990 to 1993, he also served as the Prime Minister of Greece. Konstantinos Mitsotakis is also credited with nurturing his son Kyriakos Mitsotakis' political career, who is the current Prime Minister of Greece.
![Artemisia II Artemisia II](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/artemisia-ii-1.jpg)
![Manolis Glezos Manolis Glezos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/manolis-glezos-1.jpg)
Manolis Glezos was a politician, author, journalist, and folk hero. He is best remembered for his participation in the Greek resistance during World War II. During the Axis occupation of Greece, Glezos marched towards the Acropolis of Athens where he took down the flag of Nazi Germany. He was also an award-winning journalist and helped popularize Rizospastis and I Avgi.
![Periander Periander](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/periander-1.jpg)
![Geórgios Karaïskákis Geórgios Karaïskákis](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/gergios-karaskkis-1.jpg)
![Markos Botsaris Markos Botsaris](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/markos-botsaris-1.jpg)
![Rigas Feraios Rigas Feraios](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/rigas-feraios.jpg)
Rigas Feraios was a Greek writer, revolutionary, and political thinker. A front runner of the Greek War of Independence, Feraios is revered as one of the most important national heroes in Greece. Rigas Feraios is also credited with kindling the Greeks' love of freedom.