Evangelos Zappas was a Greek philanthropist and businessman, born in 1800 in the region of Epirus. He is best known for his significant contributions to the revival of the modern Olympic Games, inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Greece. Zappas funded the first modern Olympic Games in 1859 and later supported the 1870 and 1875 games. In addition to his contributions to sports, Zappas was also involved in various charitable activities, particularly in education and public health. He established the Zappeion, a conference and exhibition center in Athens, which continues to serve as a venue for cultural and political events today.