Melina Merkouri

What I can see

A marble bust of Melina Merkouri on a marble base by Anastasios Kratidis (1965-). It is sculpted in such a way that Merkouri seems to emerge from the marble. This possibly constitutes an indirect reference to the association of her name with the campaign for the return of the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum.



 

What I can't see

The granddaughter of former mayor of Athens Spyros Merkouris and wife of film director Jules Dassin, Melina –as many Greeks affectionately called her– starred in many successful international movies such as “Stella”, “Phaedra”, “Topkapi” and “Never on Sunday”. For this last film, she was nominated for an Oscar and won the Actress Award in Cannes in 1960. Between 1967 and 1974 she campaigned internationally against the junta and saw her Greek citizenship revoked. She later returned to Greece to be elected member of Parliament and serve as Minister of Culture for a total of nine years. Her legacy as minister includes the institution of “Cultural Capital of Europe”. She led a vigorous campaign for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, working tirelessly until the end of her life in 1994 for this cause. She once said, characteristically: “I hope to see the Marbles back in Athens before I die. But if they return later, I will be reborn”.

Info

• Address: Amalias Av.

Bibliography