5 most famous Lithuanians

Anyone drawing this category in a televised quiz show are likely to be more than a little nervous, since most people outside of Lithuania rarely recognize even a single of the names I am about to give. I made this list mostly to entertain myself (I am after all still the most frequent reader of this blog), but it could still hold some educational value for others. And for future visitors to Lithuania – people always like it when you know someone they also know.

#1: Antanas Smetona

Once your head is on a coin, your fame is usually undisputable

Former president. Made a name for himself by being in the right place at the wrong time – more accurately, he was head of a European country at the outbreak of WW2. Despite being branded as a dictator by western historians, Lithuanians seem to love him. There is even a brand of butter named after him. I doubt the world will ever see “Obama butter” or “Merkel butter”.

 

#2: Žydrūnas Savickas

Žydrūnas lifting something heavy, while a skinnier man watches in silent reflection

International strongman. I don`t know how they rank such athletes, but this man must be among the absolute strongest. The fact that he is in second place speaks volumes about how the contense of  international television has taken a turn towards the more trivial in recent years. On the other hand – it takes a bold man to choose the strongman profession in a country that boasts the skinniest population in Europe. I can only imagine how shops overcharge him for pants and shirts.

 

#3: Vytautas Landsbergis

Landsbergis. One of few Lithuanian presidents with a name that is easy to pronounce.

Politician and former head of state. I would in fact not be surprised if many in the west believe that that he is still president of Lithuania, since he was still in office last time “anything important” happened there. This of course being the early 1990s, and yet again popular opinion can be proven wrong. Landsbergis now shares the fate of former communist colleague Mikhail Gorbachev, who also remains sincerely loved and remembered in the west, despite having been equally sincerely kicked out of office by his countrymen. And rather than being heads of state, both are now considered by many people to be heads of something completely different.

#4: Arvydas Sabonis

Another man with a name that is easy to pronounce

Some basketball player who made it big in America. Like most on this list, I have not met him personally, but I think I have met his cardboard cutout in a grocery store. I don`t question his talent, but if the scale of that thing was 1:1 I am fairly sure that his sheer height also was quite significant. In the same way that the simplicity of his surname probably made it easier for people to remember him, as opposed to other Lithuanian basketball players like Marčiulionis or Ilgauskas. This being a tip for future Lithuanian basketball playes with complicated names.

#5: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

A man with a name that is virtually impossible to pronounce correctly

Somewhat internationally famous painter and composer. Has his own museum in Kaunas, although not run by him personally. This man could have done well with the advice I gave under #4, since it sometimes can be difficult to make a name for yourself in the world, if most of the world’s population is unable to pronounce that very name. Some would claim that he would be #1 on this list had he been granted a longer life, while other may claim that he would not even have been on the list of he had died of old age. Nevertheless, his pictures are beautiful and his music is nice.  

That concludes the list so far. If you are famous and feel left out – please let me know, and I will consider including you.

Related post: 5 Most famous people of Lithuanian descent

All Pictures are from www.wikipedia.org