Greek poet, essayer, and translator. Born 2 November 1911 in Heraklion, Crete, Greece - Died 18 March 1996 in Athens, Greece.
He was twice Programme Director of the Greek National Radio Foundation (1945–46 and 1953–54), Member of the Greek National Theatre’s Administrative Council, President of the Administrative Council of the Greek Radio and Television, as well as Member of the Consultative Committee of the Greek National Tourists’ Organisation on the Athens Festival.
In 1960, he was awarded the First State Poetry Prize, in 1965, the Order of the Phoenix, and in 1975, he was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa in the Faculty of Philosophy at Thessaloniki University and received the Honorary Citizenship of the Town of Mytilene. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979.
Romantically linked with lyricist and musicologist Μαριανίνα Κριεζή. The last companion of his life was the poet Ιουλίτα Ηλιοπούλου, who was also the heir to the copyright of his work.