Don Theodoros ‘Griego’ arrived at the west coast of Florida on this very day, 492 years ago.
The leading role of the Greeks in the field of navigation throughout the ages has created a series of historical and para-historical approaches that speak of a Greek presence in the ‘New World’ since the Minoan era. However, the first confirmed Greek to make the perilous trip to the other side of the ocean was Theodoros Griego (the Greek).
There is little information about his life before his trip to America. His exact place of origin cannot be confirmed but the islands of Crete and Kefalonia claim this title. He was a capable mariner and ship-crafter and took part in an expedition of the Spanish fleet to the Americas. The expedition was led by Don Panfilo de Navraeth and was funded by the King of Spain, who sought to accumulate the lucrative gold and natural resources west of the Gulf of Mexico and the Cape of Florida. The overseas voyage began in June 1527. It lasted ten months with three stops in St. Dominic, Cuba and Trinidad.
When the small fleet arrived on the west coast of Florida, they were warmly welcomed by the natives who, among other goods, offered them gold. When asked about the source of the mineral, the natives claimed that it was mined in the mountainous areas that belonged to the Apalachi tribe. A scouting team made its way to the region and came in contact with the relatively hostile tribe. Both sides resorted to violence and the explorers were trapped in an area they knew little about. The solution was given by the ingenuity of Theodoros, who built five barges made of leather, wood and resin. With these improvised means they managed to escape via the tributaries of the Mississippi.
The traces of the Greek explorer were lost after this point. The prevailing theory is that he returned to the friendly natives and lived with them to find the coveted gold. So, Theodoros is not only the first Greek to reach the American continent but also the first European to live inside an indigenous community. Today, a statue in honor of Theodoros has been erected on the beach in Clearwater, Florida, at the site where the Spanish mission allegedly landed. The inscription on the monument reads: "The history of Greeks in America starts from here." Marius
