What I can see

The bust of Admiral Nikolaos Votsis (1877-1934) is one of the most characteristic examples of monumental sculpture in the city. It is a work of classicist sculptural perception. The sculpture is expressive and Votsis is depicted strict and imposing. It is placed on a marble pyramidal pedestal, on which verses in his honour are written by Giorgos Souris. On the side surface, there are the names of the torpedo boat crew that was commanded by Votsis and sank the Turkish battleship Fetih Bulent.

What I can't see

Votsis came from Hydra, fought in the Balkan wars and torpedoed the Fetih Bulent, while it was in the port of Thessaloniki, a week before the surrender of the city to the Greek army. Later, he commanded two more battleships and then, he became High Commissioner in Istanbul. The sculpture is one of the oldest in the city and was created by the sculptor Georgios Dimitriadis of Athens. During the German Occupation (WW2), this was the ending point of resistance rallies. Young people laid a wreath and sang the national anthem, while the Nazis pointed at them with their guns.

Info

• Address: Nikis Av.

Bibliography