George Zorbas was a genuine Macedonian. He was born in Kolyntro of Pieria in 1865, son of the wealthy shepherd and landowner Fotis Zorbas and Eugenia Spanou. He had three siblings, Katerina, Giannis who became a doctor and Xenophon who became an engineer. A mysterious adventure of his father with a Turk forced the whole family to resort in Katafygi of Kozani to hide, where they bought plots of land and many sheep and goats. At that time, Macedonia was under Turkish occupation and the living conditions were difficult. Unfortunately, Zorbas lost his mother early, the family collapsed economically and his father retreated to Mount Athos due to his sorrow.