Soldier’s Mother, Kalliopi Lyka
Sculpture dedicated to nurse Kalliopi Lyca, who accompanied Greek soldiers from the Balkan Wars to the war in Korea.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
2000 Placed.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
In the park of the 3rd Military Force, we see a bronze sculpture by Vassilis Pappas and Athanasios Alexiadis that represents Kalliopi Lyka in military uniform. The sculpture sits on a marble base. The title “The Soldier’s Mother” given to her by King George II, her name and the dates of her birth and death (1889-1982) are written on the base. It is a realistic work of art, but, according to Orfanidis (2016), rigid and simplistic.
What I can't see
Kalliopi Lyka grew up in a conservative family and was brought up with the values of the upper class of the time. Her love for the king, Christianity and the country was strong. She was constantly at the front as a Red Cross nurse, giving first aid to soldiers during the Balkan wars and the National Resistance against the Nazis. However, she was heavily criticized for her actions during the civil war, her participation in the Korean War, her support to monarchy and her visit to the Makronissos concentration camp for political prisoners. King George II also gave her the title “a role model Greek woman, wife and mother of the nation’s warrior heroes”.
Info
- Address: 3rd Military Force
Bibliography
Tsitiridis G., (2018), Ανακάλυψε τα γλυπτά της πόλης: «Καλλιόπη Λύκα» των Βασίλη Παππά, Αθανασίου Αλεξιάδη, [Discover the city’s sculptures: “Kalliopi Lyka” of Vassilis Pappas, Athanasios Alexiadis], in Parallaxi
https://parallaximag.gr/anakalypse-ta-glypta-tis-polis-kalliopi-lyka-ton-vasili-pappa-athanasiou-aleksiadi-32645
Last visit 11/10/2022
