The man behind the camera was Lidio Cipriani, an Italian anthropologist and committed fascist. Public Domain
The woman in this haunting photograph is Despoina Zervaki (1932–2017), widely known in Greece as the “Blonde Fairy” or the “Venus” of Crete. The image has become a legendary symbol of the Cretan spirit during the brutal Axis occupation of Greece in World War II.
The story behind the lens
The portrait was taken in the summer of 1942 in the village of Psychro, Crete visit
. The man behind the camera was Lidio Cipriani, an Italian anthropologist and committed fascist. He traveled across Crete to document the “racial characteristics” of the local population for his book, Creta e l’origine mediterranea della civiltà (Crete and the Mediterranean Origin of Civilization).
The young Despoina was reportedly uneasy during the session. Local legend says Cipriani grew frustrated with her constant smiling and fidgeting. To force her into the serious, stoic expression he desired for his anthropometric study, he allegedly threatened her and her family with the Kommandantur (German military headquarters).
The “legend” of Despoina Zervaki
Despoina lived her entire life in her ancestral village of Psychro, near the famous Psychro Cave, believed in mythology to be the birthplace of Zeus. Over time, her image evolved from a colonial anthropological record into a symbol of Cretan beauty and silent defiance against occupation.
Despite the international fame of her childhood portrait, Despoina lived a humble and somewhat reclusive life. She was known for her kindness and remained a beloved figure in the Lasithi Plateau.
She passed away in early 2017 at the age of 85. Her death was widely reported in Greek media as the passing of an “eternal legend” whose face told the story of a nation under fire. The photograph remains one of the most recognized historical portraits in Greece, often used to illustrate the resilience of the Cretan people.
