Markos Drakos ( el, Μάρκος Δράκος) was a

Cypriot Cypriot (in older sources often "Cypriote") refers to someone or something of, from, or related to the country of Cyprus. * Cypriot people, or of Cypriot descent; this includes: **Armenian Cypriots **Greek Cypriots **Maronite Cypriots **Turkish C ...

guerrilla fighter who was killed in the EOKA struggle (1955–1959) against the British. His '' nom de guerre'' was ''Lykourgos''. He was born in Nicosia District, on 24 September 1932 and studied accounting. He worked for the Hellenic Mining Company in Cyprus until 1954. When EOKA was formed, Drakos was among the first to join, training others in the use of arms and recruiting members. Drakos was mild-mannered and enthusiastic to learn about military operations, as well as being devoutly religious, and EOKA commander

Georgios Grivas Georgios Grivas ( el, Γεώργιος Γρίβας; 6 June 1897 – 27 January 1974), also known by his nickname Digenis ( el, Διγενής), was a Cypriot general in the Hellenic Army and the leader of the Organization X (1942-1949), EOKA ...

"Dighenis" quickly took a liking to him. He saw great potential in Drakos as a leader, and he was quickly promoted to a senior position in EOKA. On 1 April 1955, considered to be the first day of the struggle, Drakos and his "Astrape" ("Lightning") team blew up the radio station at Athalassa, destroying it completely. With his squad, he would go on to co-ordinate several other operations. On 30 June 1955 Drakos was arrested by the British with 14 other EOKA members and imprisoned in

Kyrenia Castle , tr, Girne Kalesi) , image = Kyrenia 01-2017 img02 Castle exterior.jpg , caption = Kyrenia Castle , map_type = Cyprus , coordinates = , location_town = Kyrenia , location_country = De jure De facto , ...

but managed to escape 3 months later, by tying blankets together and abseiling out of the windows. A bounty of £5,000 was placed on his head by the authorities. On the night of 18 January 1957 the British forces attacked Drakos and his men at their hideout in the Solea Valley. Drakos was killed and His body recovered and interred by the British in the

Imprisoned Graves The "Imprisoned Graves" are a set of graves in a small cemetery located in the Central Jail of Nicosia, where 13 EOKA fighters, during the 1955-1959 liberation struggle for the liberation of Cyprus from the United Kingdom, were interred. Nine of ...

in the

Central Jail of Nicosia The Central Jail of Nicosia is the only prison of the Republic of Cyprus. The unrecognized republic of Northern Cyprus also has its own prison. The Central Jail of Nicosia is run by the Cyprus Prisons Department. It is located west of the walled ...

. Evrychou Community Council erected a marble statue at the location in Sklinitzia where he fell. Dracos' sten gun was preserved and is currently on display at the Suffolk Regiment Museum. In 1963, a statue of Drakos in Nicosia was bombed.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drakos, Markos 1932 births 1957 deaths People from Nicosia District Cypriot people of the EOKA Deaths by firearm in Cyprus People killed in the Cyprus Emergency