Kazantzakis – the grave
Nikos Kazantzakis was probably the greatest author to be born on the island of Crete. His books included Zorba the Greek to Freedom or Death. His book, The Last Temptation, was banned by the Pope and his writings in general led to his being excommunicated by the Greek Orthodox Church. He thus could not be buried in hallowed ground.
He died in 1957 and his grave lies on top of the south bastion of the Venetian wall around the city of Iraklion. This was where he was born and spent a lot of his life.
He wrote the words that appear starkly on his headstone.
“I want nothing. I need nothing. I am free.”
