What I can see

The statue of Alexander Panagoulis (1939-1976) is a 2-metre-high bronze sculpture situated on a marble base. On the left side of the base the names of his comrades have been engraved, while on the right and the back, the names of those who contributed financially or participated in the initiative to commission the work. On the front side of the base, the following phrase is engraved: “I believe the most beautiful swansong of any real fighter is the death rattle before the firing squad of tyranny and I accept this position.” These words were reportedly spoken by Panagoulis in his defense statement at the court martial. The sculpture is rather awkwardly placed in this spot.

What I can't see

Alexander (Alexandros or Alekos) Panagoulis was a poet and politician. He was responsible for an assassination attempt against the dictator Papadopoulos on 13/8/1968, for which he was arrested and tortured. He once characteristically said in an interview: “I did not seek to kill a person. I am incapable of killing a person. I sought to kill a tyrant”. After the dictatorship, he was elected Member of Parliament and inspired many artists, including the world-renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis, who set his poems to music. He died in 1976 in a car accident, which many suspected was caused deliberately to prevent him from bringing to justice a file with names of politicians who collaborated with the junta, something he had allegedly been planning to do in the days following the accident. These allegations have never been confirmed.

Info

• Address: Santaroza Sq.

Bibliography