Artist: Nikolaos Kotziamanis

Location: Astromeritis barricade 

Material: Marble and bronze 

Category: Inter-communal conflicts 1963-64, Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken by Morfou cultural union, active at Astromeritis village. The unveiling took place during 2003. Morfou is situated in the occupied zone of Cyprus. The use of occupied areas to name schools, cultural or athletic unions and associations, even shops and restaurants, is a widespread habit in Cyprus and a way of preserving historical memory. 

This memorial combines both symbolic representations and realistic narration. The cross-like sword, the wires, the photographs on the hands of the youngster and the (missing) man trapped behind the closed iron wall are evocative visual narrations. They frame the Cypriot 1974 events, all summarized by the missing men, the occupied village, the inaccessible land, and the battles given in the name of motherland and creed. In addition, the missing man, the bas reliefs with the weeping elder men and women, and the angry faces of the youngsters function as snapshots, reiterates the events of 1974.

Selected sources
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/2, Meeting Minutes October 23, 2001.
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/4, document September 22, 2002.

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