“The Children of Niobe” is the title of a novel by Tassos Athanasiadis, which was also broadcast on television. The story takes place in Izmir and Salihli, and describes the life of the Greeks of Asia Minor under Turkish rule and Greek occupation, until their persecution. The central hero is Sarris, a banker, who falls in love with Tarsus, a young girl, and begins a secret relationship with her.

In summary, the series focuses on:

To Sarris (Grigoris Valtinos):
A respected banker, passionate about Tarsus despite being married and having children.

In Tarsi (Margarita Amarantidis):
A young girl who is saved from a forced marriage and falls in love with Sarri.

In the family of Sarri:
His wife, Chrysanthi (Maria Tzompanaki), and their four children, Stergio (Apostolis Totsikas), Roy (Eleni Apostolopoulou), Alexa (Yulika Skafida) and Tasso (Nerina Zarpa).

In the society of Izmir:
The relations between Greeks and Turks, as well as the social and political upheavals of the time.

On eroticism and sensuality:
The series has many erotic scenes and a lot of nudity, mainly by Margarita Amarantidis and other female actresses, but always given with quality and excellent aesthetics.

At the historical juncture:
The Greek presence in Asia Minor and the destruction of Smyrna.

The series explores themes such as love, betrayal, loyalty, and loyalty, through the lives of the heroes and historical developments.

Sarris, in the TV series “The Children of Niobe”, is Michalakis (Michalakis) Anastasiades, a respected banker and banker, who falls in love with Tarsi, a young girl who is saving from forced marriage and Islamization.

In the series, Sarris is married to Chrysanthi and they have four children: Stergios, Roi, Alexa and Tasso. The series describes the life of the Hellenism of Asia Minor under Turkish rule, focusing on Sarris and his family, as well as their relations with the Turks and Greeks.

Sarris, in love with Tarsus, begins a secret relationship, while his wife, Chrysanthi, suspects his infidelity and tries to end the relationship. At the same time, the series explores the relationships of Sarri's children with their lovers, such as Stergios with journalist Nora (Androniki Christakis) and Roi with Greek soldier George Stathatos (Pygmalion Dadakaridis).

“The Children of Niobe” is a four-volume novel cycle by Tassos Athanasiadis, describing the life of the Greeks of Asia Minor, especially in Salihli, before and during the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Tarsi is one of the central figures, a young Greek woman from Koula, who has a forbidden relationship with Sarri, a banker and demoman.

The story unfolds over a period from the summer of 1917 to December 1922, covering the Asia Minor Campaign and the Catastrophe. Tarsi refuses to marry the son of a Turkish rancher and becomes close with Sarri, beginning a secret love affair. Sarris offers hospitality to Tarsi and her family. The series explores the lives of people in this closed society, focusing on love and the social upheavals of the time.

The TV series “The Children of Niobe”, aired by ERT in 2004-2005, is based on the novel by Athanasiades. In the series, Gregory Valtinos plays Sarri, while Margarita Amarantidis plays Tarsi.

The series was directed by Kostas Koutsomitis and includes two episodes.

The story revolves around Michalis Anastasiades, also known as Sarri, a self-made middle-aged banker, and his family, during the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the region of Izmir . Sarris falls in love with Tarsi, a seventeen-year-old girl who is saving from forced marriage and Islamization. The series explores the relationships, challenges and changes faced by Sarri's family and the wider society of the time.

Tarsi is one of the central characters of the play, a young Greek girl who falls in love with Sarris Anastasiades, a powerful man.

Specifically, Tarsi is a beautiful and sensual young woman, who is attracted to Sarri, a rich and experienced banker and demoman, despite their age difference and social status. Their love is passionate and hidden, as Tarsi is engaged to someone else. Their relationship develops in an environment of intense social and political unrest, against the backdrop of the events that led to the destruction of Izmir.

The series also refers to other children of Niobe, that is, the inhabitants of the area, who experience the loss, uprooting and preservation of their identity within a troubled historical context. Tarsus, as part of this ensemble, symbolizes hope and perseverance in a world that is falling apart.

The series stars:
Grigoris Valtinos: as Michalakis Anastasiadis/Sarris
Maria Tzompanaki: as Chrysanthi Anastasiadis/Sarrina
Apostolis Totsikas: as Stergios Anastasiades
Eleni Apostolopoulou: as Roi Anastasiadi
Youlika Skafida: as Alexa Anastasiades
Nerina Zarpa as Tasso Anastasiades
Margarita Amarantidis: as Tarsi
Antonis Fragkakis as Gilmaz Daikal
Angelos Antonopoulos: as Tryfon Ioannidis
Angela Gerekou: as Zizi
Tasos Nousias: as Giannis Kantaroglou