JULY 13TH:
On this day in 1965, Photis Kontoglou, the Greek writer, painter, and iconographer, passed away at the age of 69. Raised by his mother and his uncle, who was an abbot in a nearby monastery in Aivali on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, Kontoglou spent his childhood in the monastery, the sea, and among fishermen. In 1913, he enrolled in the Athens School of Fine Arts. Around the time of the outbreak of World War I, he decided to leave the School and journey through various European countries. After returning home to Asia Minor, he and the rest of the Greek inhabitants of the region were driven out of their homes in the population exchange. After many ordeals and hardships, Kontoglou arrived in Athens. Starting in 1923, he spent some time at Mount Athos where he discovered the technique of Byzantine iconography. In 1923, he became the curator of Byzantine Icons at the Byzantine Museum of Athens and two years later, he was appointed as Professor of Art History and Painting at the American College. Kontoglou is most famous for his painting and church iconography (including the Kapnikarea Church in Athens, the monumental fresco of the Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople, and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Charleston, South Carolina). According to Nikos Zias, a professor of the history of art in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Kontoglou managed to “shake the pond waters of the immutable prosperity of the interwar period and shaped the Greek national consciousness.”

JULY 14TH:
On this day in 1906, Tom Carvel (ne Athanassios Karvelas), the Greek-American entrepreneur who revolutionized the ice cream industry, was born in Athens. Emigrating to the United States as a child, Carvel displayed an entrepreneurial spirit early on. In 1934, while selling ice cream from his truck in Hartsdale, NY, a flat tire led him to discover that partially melted ice cream was highly popular with customers. This serendipitous event inspired him to create the first Carvel store, pioneering the concept of soft-serve ice cream. Carvel’s innovative approach extended beyond product development. He introduced the franchise model to the ice cream business, enabling rapid expansion. By 1947, Carvel had established his first franchise store, setting the stage for a nationwide presence. His marketing genius, characterized by his distinctive gravelly voice and memorable TV and radio commercials, made Carvel a household name. Carvel’s commitment to quality and customer service, coupled with his inventive marketing strategies, earned him a lasting legacy in the ice cream industry. When he passed away on October 21, 1990, Carvel left behind a thriving enterprise and a sweet legacy that continues to delight generations of ice cream lovers.

JULY 15TH:
On this day in 1974, the Greek junta sponsored a coup d’etat by Greek army officers in Nicosia seeking to achieve ‘enosis’ AKA union of Cyprus with Greece. President Archbishop Makarios III was overthrown and fled to England. He was replaced with Nikos Sampson – for two days. Five days later, Turkey, expressing concern about the imminent possibility of a unified Greece and Cyprus, sent in its troops with the supposed aim of protecting the Turkish Cypriot community and realized its long-time plan to partition the island. After a second invasion in the following month, the Turkish Cypriots occupied the northern 37% of the island, while the Greek Cypriot community held the southern sector. The Greeks of the island angrily condemned Turkey’s illegal occupation, while Ankara claimed the Turkish Cypriots welcomed the protection offered by the troops. The coup on Cyprus quickly dissolved and Greece’s military junta collapsed. Reunification talks between the two communities have occurred on more than one occasion, but as we all know, nothing has come to fruition as of yet. The Republic of Cyprus became a member of the EU in 2004.