Katsaros Giorgos

The stage-name "Katsaros" (meaning "curly") derived from his bushy black hair, which became a shock of white hair in later life and was frequently restrained with a hairnet. His real name was George Theologitis, son of Nicholas Theologitis and Anna Stoupi, and he was born at Ayia Marina on the Cycladean island of Amorgos in 1888, according to the birth certificate, which was later reissued, authenticated and translated, and which he cheerfully allowed visitors to photocopy.
The remainder of his biography is almost exclusively based on the colourful but often contradictory oral narratives of the voluble centenarian himself, and many dates and details are in conspicuous need of verification. There is, however, a more or less coherent core to the various versions of the catalogue of wanderings and notable encounters, which commence with a move from Amorgos to Athens after the death of his father, to take up residence in the royal palace - in the servants' quarters, that is, for his mother had secured employment there as a cook.