Constantinos Spyridakis

Constantinos Spyridakis was born in Nicosia in 1903. He studied philology at Athens University (1919-1923), ancient history, classics and philosophy at Berlin University (1931-1934). He was made Doctor of Philosophy in 1934. He served as Principal of the Pancyprian Gymnasium (1936-1960), as President of the Greek Communal Chamber (1960-1965) and as Minister of Education (1965-1970). He founded scientific societies and research centres which were internationally recognised. He was elected associate member of Athens Academy (1952), Honorary Doctor of Thessaloniki University (1969) and Member of the Ionian Academy (1979). He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Jerusalem Patriarchate (1951), the Goethe gold Medal (1964), the Grand Cross of the Order of Phoenix (1966) and the Gold Medal of the Church of St. Barnabas (1972). Constantinos Spyridakis published the "Brief History of Cyprus" (1964-1972), and a voluminous work entitled "Studies, Lectures, Speeches and Articles" (1972). He wrote the "History of Ancient Cyprus", an Athens University Publication (1986), He died in 1976.

(http://www.philatelism.com/details.php?issueid=272) (Cyprus Who's Who 1940)