the women formed a circle holding hands and danced singing along the edge of a cliff. As each one reached the edge she would jump off the cliff. This song of freedom is still remembered today and the heroism of the Souliotisses has inspired poets and writers all over the world: G. Jarvis, J.P. Miller, S.G. Howe, and W.T. Washington. (The last had fallen in love with Rosa Botsari, the daughter of Markos Botsaris, but was killed in a battle in Nafplion. So their marriage never took place.)

The so-called ''division of immortals'', as the Greeks named them, aspired to save the birthplace of Socrates, Platon, Aristotle and the Alexander the Great and the generation of their descendents.

Souliotes so greatly admired the militaristic virtue of Colonel G. Jarvis that they asked him to train the army they had formed, commandeered by Kitsos Tzavellas.Thus, a need was born urging me to depict on canvas those extraordinary figures of Americans and Greeks, who were motivated by identical values and ideals. It was, too, a need to honor the American contribution to the rebirth of the Greek Nation and the generous efforts of Americans who fought side by side with Greeks to help them gain their independentce.

My book is an expression of homage to the American contribution for the emancipation of the Greek nation. It is also recognition of the noble efforts of Philhellenes American fighters and men of distinction of the era who facilitated Greece to break the chains of oppression from the Ottoman Empire. These men of valor did not only donate their fortunes, but often shed their blood in the name of Greek sovereignty, as they were firm believes in democratic ideals.

My book is also dedicated to the members of the American Congress and to the American people in belief that they shall always continue to encourage peace and democracy in the troubled times we live in. Let these portraits of renowned Americans by a ceaseless reminder of the contribution of the United States of America of Greece and the whole world.

At the dawning of the third millennium, I believe that the bonds between Greece and the U.S.A. will be enhanced and continually permeated with the ideals of Justice and Freedom, as expressed by those American Philhellenes, who were inspired by the classical Greek spirit.

Frederiki D. Pappas, Athens 2000