Theodoros Deligiannis statue

What I can see

Theodoros Deligiannis is depicted standing, with his left leg in projection, his right hand on his chest and his left resting on a column with books. This depiction refers to an orator, wanting to highlight one of Deligiannis’ greatest abilities. The simple clothing and the low look refer to his pro-popular politics. The statue is made of marble, it is 2m high and is located on a marble pedestal with a relief. The name of Deligiannis and the name of the sculptor, Georgios Dimitriadis of Athens are written on the base. The placement of the statue in the Old Parliament is in harmony with his political life, as this is where he took his political action and then was assassinated. He also “co-exists” with his most important political opponent, Charilaos Trikoupis, whose statue is placed on the eastern side of the square.

What I can't see

Theodoros Deligiannis (1824-1905) was the founder of the National Party and was 5 times prime minister of Greece. He was the main political opponent of Harilaos Trikoupis and his liberal – for the time – politics. He was a conservative politician, but in contrast to the European bourgeois conservatives, who had close relations with the monarchy, he had a more moderate attitude. He aimed at a balance between parliament and crown, at a genuine parliamentarianism of the Orléans style and a strong state of law and constitutional order. Although he tried to empower the economically weaker, he was only popular with a part of the middle class, but not with the working class and the bourgeoisie. He was held responsible for Greece’s defeat in the humiliating 1897 war with the Ottoman Empire. He was murdered on the steps of the (Old) Parliament by a notorious gambler, after Deligiannis had banned gambling clubs, which were out of control at the time.

Info

• Address: 13 Stadiou St.

Bibliography