Georgios Zariphis
{{Short description|Ottoman banker and financier}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Georgios Zariphis
| image = Yorgo zarifi2.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = c. 1881
| birth_name = Yorgo Zariphis
| birth_date = 1810
| birth_place = Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
| death_date = 28 March 1884
| death_place = Switzerland
| death_cause =
| nationality = Ottoman Greek
| other_names =
| known_for = Benefaction
| occupation = Banker and financier
}}
Georgios Y. Zariphis ({{langx|el|Γεώργιος Ζαρίφης}}, {{langx|tr|Yorgo Zarifi}}; 1810 – 28 March 1884), also known as Yorgo Zarifi, was a prominent Ottoman Greek banker and financier. He was also well known as a prominent benefactor of his time. Zariphis met Sultan Abdul Hamid II when the latter was a shahzade with a low expectation of ascending to the throne. The prince, having financial troubles, called on the expertise of Zariphis to manage his personal wealth. After Abdul Hamid II became sultan, he continued to utilize Zarifi's advisory services during the First Constitutional Era.
Living at the time when the Ottoman Empire was in great financial distress and had declared bankruptcy, Zariphis was one of the Galata bankers who was involved in the Empire's debt raising. He was involved in setting up the Düyun-u Umumiye (Office of Public Debt) in 1881 that oversaw tax collection and debt payments of the Ottoman Empire.
Zariphis also sponsored the foundation of Greek language schools, which were named Zariphia after schools: like the Zariphios School in Philippopolis (present-day: Plovdiv, Ottoman era: Filibe) and Dede Aghach (present-day: Alexandroupoli).{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} It is understood from the dedication of the book that he provided financial support to Vasileios I. Kandes, who wrote a book about the history of Bursa.
Traces of Zariphis in today's Istanbul
One of the buildings of the Balıklı Greek Hospital is named Zariphion in his honor, not because of a specific bequest but in remembrance of the many at-large donations he gave during his lifetime.
Georgios Zariphis's summertime mansion, Zarifi Köşkü,{{Cite web |url=http://www.turizmdebusabah.com/haberpics/picsnew/13737.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-05-03 |archive-date=2018-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010526/http://www.turizmdebusabah.com/haberpics/picsnew/13737.jpg |url-status=dead }} in the Yeniköy district, is a listed and protected historical building, which in 2005 started undergoing renovation as the headquarters of the Turkish Football Federation.{{cite web |title=Zarifi Kosku |url=http://www.tarabyatarihi.com/index.php/tarihi-mekanlar-2/kosk-ve-yalilar/zarifi-kosku/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711050712/http://www.tarabyatarihi.com/index.php/tarihi-mekanlar-2/kosk-ve-yalilar/zarifi-kosku/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2012 |publisher=Tarabya Tarihi (History of Tarabya) |access-date=11 January 2013 |language=Turkish }}
A restaurant in the Beyoğlu district is named Zariphis (Zarifi), both as a play on the word zarif ("genteel") and with reference to Yorgo Zarifi.{{cite web|title=Zarifi Restaurant|url=http://www.rezztoran.com/zarifi-restaurant.aspx|publisher=Rezztoran|access-date=11 January 2013|language=Turkish}}{{cite web|title=An Elegant History|url=http://www.zarifi.com.tr/|publisher=Zarifi: Official Website|access-date=11 January 2013}}
In September 1955, during the anti-Greek Istanbul riots his grave was vandalized by a fanatical mob.{{cite web|title=Σεπτέμβριος 1955: η τρίτη άλωση|url=http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kath/7days/1995/09/10091995.pdf|publisher=& Ημέρες, Καθημερινή|access-date=3 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331023209/http://wwk.kathimerini.gr/kath/7days/1995/09/10091995.pdf|archive-date=31 March 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- Zarifi, Georges L. (2002) My Memoirs: a world that has gone, (in Greek) Trohalia Publishing co, Athens Greece, {{ISBN|960-7809-93-9}}.
- Zarifi, Yorgo L. (2005), Hatıralarım: Kaybolan Bir Dünya İstanbul 1800–1920, {{ISBN|975-04-0307-X}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zariphis, Georgios}}
Category:19th-century Greek businesspeople
Category:19th-century businesspeople from the Ottoman Empire
Category:Businesspeople from Istanbul
Category:Constantinopolitan Greeks
Category:Greek philanthropists
Category:Burials at Şişli Greek Orthodox Cemetery
Category:19th-century philanthropists
Category:Businesspeople from Odesa
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