All about Zakynthos

The Zakynthian poet, playwright and fighter in the revolution of 1821, Dimitrios Gougelis (1774-1843) was born and raised in the district of Agios Pavlos.

He was a pupil of Antonios Martelaus and, like his teacher, embraced the principles of the French Democrats (Liberty-Unity-Fraternity).

When the Russo-Turks occupied Zakynthos, he was imprisoned for a time in Constantinople and after his release he travelled to Italy

where he stayed until the beginning of the Greek Revolution, in which he participated with a corps of 60 Zakynthians whom he recruited

and equipped at his own expense. He took part in the sieges of Methoni and Neokastro and served the newly established Greek state in various political positions.

His most famous play, "Hasis", is still performed today as a speech in Zakynthos.