English actor, comedian, author and supporter for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece , Stephen Fry, was presented with the Medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix at Greek embassy in London last week.
Mr Fry received the medal from the Ambassador of Greece in London, Ioannis Raptakis, for “his contribution in enhancing knowledge about Greece in the United Kingdom and reinforcing ties between our two countries.”
The medal is bestowed to Greek citizens or foreigners who helped to raise Greek prestige internationally and who have excelled in their field of practice or in private life.
In a message posted on Twitter last Thursday, Mr Fry said: “JKR (JK Rowling author of the Harry Potter books) did not invent the Order of the Phoenix. It truly exists. Thrilled & deeply honoured to have the REAL one conferred upon me by H.E. the Greek Ambassador today. Ζήτω η Ελλάδα!”
READ MORE: British comedian and philhellene Stephen Fry urges UK to return the marbles
Mr Fry, who has written a number of books on Ancient Greece including “Mythos, The Greek Myths Retold” (2017), “Heroes, Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures” (2019) and last year’s “Troy” has also supported the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece – a message that he repeated in a Tweet posted on 26 March, the day after the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence from Ottoman rule.