The Greek
hero of Ethiopia in the 1850s
(Excerpt
from the book ‘The Greeks presence in the horn of Africa’)
George Photis settled
in Ethiopia in 1850. He was assigned to the army of the king of Gotzam and
received the honorary title balabaras (commander of the guard) for his bravery.
He was then known as Giorgis Balabaras and followed the Ethiopian army in the
battles against Mahdi in Sudan and against the Italians in Adwa in 1896. According
to testimonies, he was the only European who fought alongside Ethiopians
against the Italians.
