5 Famous Lithuanians Who Went Down in World History

Lithuania is one of the most powerful countries in Eastern Europe, known not only for its nature and beautiful beaches on the Baltic coast, but also for the people whose inspiring stories of life and creativity have made Latvia famous far beyond its borders.

Today, we are going to tell you about 5 famous Lithuanians who have made their contribution to world history:

Arūnas Matelis

Photo: Arūnas Matelis, Source: https://www.lithuania.travel

Arūnas Matelis is considered to be perhaps the most famous Lithuanian documentary filmmaker. His works are well known in Lithuania and far beyond its borders. The artist was born in the Lithuanian town of Kaunas in 1961. A gifted young man, he went to study at the Lithuanian Academy of Music, where he successfully graduated in 1989. His most famous documentary is the film Before Returning to Earth. The film tells the story of children going through difficult stages of treatment for cancer. The film has won awards at the Brooklyn Film Festival and the Silverdocs International Film Festival, the Directors Guild of America award, and numerous European film forums in Amsterdam, Madrid and Leipzig.

Jurga Ivanauskaitė

Photo: Jurga Ivanauskaitė, Source: https://timenote.info

Jurga Ivanauskaitė is a Lithuanian poet, writer and artist who is considered one of the most talented artists in Lithuania. Jurga was born in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she has lived most of her life. Her first book was published in 1985 under the title The Year of Lilies of the Valley or Pakalnuciu Metai. Her most popular works are Ragan Ir Lietus or The Withc and the Rain, Placebas or Placebo and Citadel of Sleeping Butterflies, which have been translated into many languages.

Eimuntas Nekrošius

Photo: Eimuntas Nekrošius, Source: https://aina.lt

Eimuntas Nekrošius is a world-renowned Lithuanian theatre director, winner of numerous awards. His most famous productions include William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Macbeth and Rosenthal's Children, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe's Faust. Nekrošius has a unique theatrical style, for which he is so loved by critics and revered by the audience. The director often uses natural props on stage, such as ice, wind, fire or water, and the performances always have a special meditative musical setting.

Jonas Maciulis

Photo: Jonas Maciulis, Source: https://maironiomuziejus.lt

Jonas Maciulis was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, clergyman and translator whose works became the foundation of modern Lithuanian poetry. Maciulis came from a poor peasant family from the Pasandravis estate. Jonas first studied at Kyiv University, from where he later transferred to Kaunas Seminary, graduating in 1888. Soon after, he returned to his alma mater, where he became rector and teacher of literature. He devoted most of his life to writing. His most famous works include Lithuania, Trakai Castle, From Birute Hill, I Will Vanish Like Smoke, The Earth Sleeps, Spring, The News Came, and Summer Nights.

Ruta Meilutite

Photo: Ruta Meilutite, Source: https://swimswam.com

Ruta Meilutite is a Lithuanian swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal and set a number of world records. Meilutite was born in Kaunas in 1977. At the age of 15, she had already broken eleven national swimming records and became the youngest Lithuanian athlete to win a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at the European Youth Festival in 2011. A year later, Meilutite won gold at the London Summer Olympics with a time of 1:05.47. In 2014, Ruta Meilutite set the world record in the 50m breaststroke, and in 2022 she improved it herself, covering the distance in 28.37 seconds.