Tag Archives: Kyriacou George (Κυριάκου Γιώργος)

Michalakis Karaolis (Μιχαλάκης Καραολής) bust

Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Καραολή (6)n Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Καραολήn

Artist: George Kyriacou

Location: The English School, Strovolos. Nicosia district 

Dimensions: 2 meters x 38 cm x 38 cm

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the bust was taken in 1993 by the English School. The bust was delivered in 1995 and the unveiling took place on May 10th 1996.

Michalakis Karaolis and Andreas Dimitriou were the first EOKA fighters who died by hanging in May 1956 at Nicosia central prison.

Keywords:

Memorial to the dead Policemen

Artist: George Kyriacou

Location: Police Headquarters, Lemesou Avenue, Aglandjia. Nicosia district

Category: Public Figures, Inter-communal conflicts 1963-64, 1974 Coup, Turkish Invasion, Modern sculpture

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was funded by the Cypriot policemen. It was commissioned in 1968 and was delivered in 1973. The unveiling took place on April 15th 1973.

According to the art competition call it should depict: “the exacerbation of the sacrificial spirit of the dead Policemen”. According to the artist George Kyriacou “the two gigantic hemispheres assimilate to two gigantic police helmets and constitute the basis of the monument. They balance in a subtle way implying policemen’s difficult task to safeguard and keep in balance the counterweighing social and political forces”.

The same symbolisms are attributed to the vertical brass construction.

Selected sources:
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968, Meeting Minutes December 30, 1969.

Keywords:

Michalakis Paridis (Μιχαλάκης Παρίδης) bust

Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (3) n Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (10) n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: “Michalakis Paridis” union premises, 1st April Avenue, Larnaka. Larnaka district. 

Material: Brass 

Dimensions: 2 meters

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The construction of the bust was an initiative of “Michalakis Paridis” union. The unveiling took place on May 3rd 1997. 

Keywords:

Konstantinos Zahariadis (Κωνσταντίνος Ζαχαριάδης) and Stylianos Apostolidis (Στυλιανός Αποστολίδης) busts.

Προτομές Κωνσταντίνου Ζαχαριάδη και Στυλιανού Αποστολίδη (1) n

Προτομή Κωνσταντίνου Ζαχαριάδη n Προτομή Στυλιανού Αποστολίδη n Konstantinos Zahariadis                                       Stylianos Apostolidis

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Larnaka “Pan Cypriot” lyceum yard, Grigoris Afxentiou Avenue, Larnaka. Larnaka district. 

Material: Brass 

Dimensions: 120 cm (+17 cm the step) x 48 cm x 48 cm

Category: Public Figures

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The busts were commissioned by the Larnaka Schools committee and the unveiling took place on December 27th 1970. Zahariadis and Apostolidis were renowned Cypriot benefactors.

Selected sources:
~Αγών (Agon), October 11, 1970, p. 4.
~Τελευταία Ώρα (Teleftea Ora), October 1, 1969, p. 4.

Keywords:

Petrakis Kyprianou (Πετράκης Κυπριανού) statue

Ανδριάντας Πετράκη Κυπριανού (2) n  Ανδριάντας Πετράκη Κυπριανού (5) n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: King Pavlos square, Petraki Yiallourou St., Larnaka. Larnaka district. 

Material: Brass

Dimensions: 4.50 meters 

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The statue was commissioned by the Diocese of Kition and the “EPA” (ΕΠΑ) sports union. The unveiling took place on November 20th 1988. 

Selected sources:
~Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, Meeting Minutes March 13, 2008.
~Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, document June 12, 2009; Meetings Minutes November 6, 2008; January 15, 2009; February 12, 2009; May 7, 2009; June 11, 2009; December 13, 2009.
~Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.11, document June 12, 2009. 

Keywords:

Michalakis Paridis (Μιχαλάκης Παρίδης) statue

Ανδριάντας Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (2)n  Ανδριάντας Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (3)n

Ανδριάντας Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (4)n  Ανδριάντας Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (5)n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Michalakis Paridis square at Larnaka. Larnaka district. 

Material: Brass

Dimensions: 2.30 meters high

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

On the rear of the pyramidal pedestal is written part of a Paridis’ poem: “When you conclude your fights it is desirable to find back home the immaculate hug of the faithful Penelope. But if you die on the field, that is the sublime moral way to offer your life” (Ποθητό ‘ναι να βρης στων αγώνων το τέρμα μιας πιστής Πηνελόπης αγκαλιές αμόλυντες. Μ’αν αφήσης στην μάχη την πνοή σου την ύστατη, πιο χρηστά δεν μπορούσες την ζωή να προσφέρης). 

The initiative for the construction of the statue was taken in 1967 by the Larnaka hiking club and was funded by private sources. The unveiling took place on January 26th 1969. 

Selected sources:
~Μάχη (Mahi), June 17, 1966, p. 3.
~Αγών (Agon), June 27, 1966, p. 5.
~Απογευματινή (Apogevmatini), March 8, 1994.

Keywords:

Memorial to the Athienou dead

Μνημείο πεσόντων κατά τους εθνικούς αγώνες (1)n

Μνημείο πεσόντων κατά τους εθνικούς αγώνες (5)n Μνημείο πεσόντων κατά τους εθνικούς αγώνες (6)n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Panagia Chryseleousa church yard, Athienou village. Larnaka district. 

Material: Bronze 

Category: EOKA 1955-59, Modern sculpture

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was constructed after an initiative by Major Panayiotis Koumenis between 1970 and 1984. No further information regarding dates is available. The names of the dead are carved on the marble pedestal. What differentiates this memorial from the vast majority of commemorative locations in Cyprus is the modern, abstract sculpted form on the top of the pedestal, where usually national symbols or allegoric features, such as the victory or liberty, are usually placed. Nevertheless the pedestal per se, and furthermore its height, implies respect and authority, underlines the ‘distance’ between the viewers and the object in vision, and obliges them to raise their heads in order to take a close look. 

Keywords:

Memorial to the Xylofagou dead and missing

Προτομές Νίκου Θεοφάνους και Μιχαλάκη Βραχίμη (1) n Προτομές Νίκου Θεοφάνους και Μιχαλάκη Βραχίμη (2) n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Agios Georgios church yard, Xylofagou village. Larnaka district. 

Dimensions: 142 cm x 42.5 cm x 42 cm

Category: Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial is dedicated to Nikos Theofanous (Νίκος Θεοφάνους) and Michalakis Brahimis (Μιχαλάκης Βραχίμης). It was commissioned by a private committee formed ad hoc for the cause.

Keywords:

Michalakis Paridis (Μιχαλάκης Παρίδης)

Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη (4) n Προτομή Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Outside the Regional Museum of EOKA 1955-59 struggle, Vavla village. Larnaka district. 

Dimensions: 185 cm x 41~61 cm x 41~61 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The location of the bust is the exact spot where Michalakis Paridis died in 1958. The memorial was commissioned in 1997 by SIMAE (Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle). The unveiling took place on October 14th 2001. 

Selected sources:
~Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/19, document May 8, 1999.
~Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, document June 6, 2008.
~Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, document June 2009.

Keywords:

Machairas commemoration place

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Ομοίωμα Ολοκαυτώματος Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (7)n Ομοίωμα Ολοκαυτώματος Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (12)n Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (2)n Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (25)n

Photography: Adrienne Christiansen & Evangelia Matthopoulou

Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) statue

Machairas Golden Eagle

“Threshing floor and Machairas’ Eagle” Memorial 

All three memorial pieces are dedicated to Grigoris Afxentiou, one of the most renowned EOKA 1955-59 fighters. Georgios Grivas (known by the nickname Digenis) personally recruited Afxentiou counting on the invaluable experience he had as a lieutenant in the Greek army, where he served between the years 1948 and 1952. Afxentiou was killed, trapped in his hideout in Machairas area, Troodos Mountain, after a long battle. The British soldiers burned the cave he was hidden in, after his refusal to surrender.

Today, his hideout, close to the monastery, is restored and serves as pilgrimage for Cypriots. It is not known at what point the nickname “Golden Eagle of Machairas” was attributed to Afxentiou. A version points to Georgios Grivas who supposedly called him “Golden Eagle of Pentadaktylos”. The golden eagle’s (Aquila pennata or Hieraaetus pennatus) natural environment is Pentadaktylos Mountain (in the occupied part of the island), where a certain area is also known as “aetofolia” (eagle’s nest). However, the inscription “Golden Eagle of Machairas” which decorates the pedestal of his bust at the Memorial to the Lakatamia dead and missing (Nicosia district), explicitly links the nickname with his extensive activity at Machairas and not at Pentadaktylos. 

In February 2006 a museum was inaugurated at Machairas, dedicated to his life and deeds. The material used for all three pieces listed here is brass.

The initiative of Grigoris Afxentiou statue was taken by the artist Nikolaos Kotziamanis and Archbishop Chrisostomos A’, and funded by the Cypriot Church. The oversized statue (7.5 meters in height, initially planned to reach the 20 meters) is placed on a plateau adjacent to Machairas monastery. The unveiling took place on March 1st 1992. According to Kotziamanis it is aspired to “become a universal symbol of freedom and fighting spirit”. 

George Kyriacou was the artist who created the golden eagle, an abstractive sculpture of 7 x 7 meters, and the “Threshing floor and Machairas’ Eagle” memorial. 

The initiative for the Golden Eagle sculpture was taken in 1971 by the Cypriot Federation of Reserve Officers (POEA/ΠΟΕΑ), the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ), and the Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle (SIMAE/ΣΙΜΑΕ). The unveiling took place on March 2nd 1997. 

The “Threshing floor and Machairas’ Eagle” memorial is reminiscent of his burned body in life size. Placed in the middle of a circle 12 meters in diameter, paved with marble, it attempts an explicit and implicit reference to the mythical iconic hero of Greek tradition, Digenis Akritas, who legendarily fought with death at the “threshing floors”. 

The historic events ignited an abstract, expressionistic formulation of the deformed body, which lie almost dismembered on the bare stone. The textures of the brass further underline the contrast between the materials and the wildness of the natural environment, exacerbating the dramatic feelings.   

The initiative for this memorial was taken in 1997 by the Cypriot Federation of Reserve Officers (POEA/ΠΟΕΑ), the Associations of EOKA fighters, and the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ).

The Cypriot Chamber of Fine Arts expressed its’ strong opposition with regard to the oversize scale of the statue. Through the press its’ members argued that it is “of barbaric nature and alien to the historical greatness of Greek art”, implying the physical scale of all ancient Greek art and architecture. The family of the dead fighter strongly supported the artist’s proposal and thus, the project was concluded.

The Golden Eagle and the monastery panoramic images are courtesy of Dr. Adrienne Christiansen. 

Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), August 4, 1972, p. 3. 
~ Αλήθεια (Alithia), January 28, 2009. 
~ Μάχη (Mahi), January 29, 2009, p. 12.
~ Σημερινή (Simerini), March 24, 1983, p. 3.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), August 24, 1979, p. 4.  
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), October 28, 1989, p. 12.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), November 1, 1989, p. 18. 
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), November 12, 1989, p. 6
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), November 16, 1989, p. 6.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), January 30, 1990, p. 10.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), June 30, 1971, p. 8.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), August 4, 1972, p. 1.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/9, document May 19, 1970. 
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/13, document August 2, 1995. 
~ Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle, 17.1.2002, vol. 1-2, documents October 1, 2002; February 22, 2002; February 2, 2009; Meeting Minutes January 12, 2006; June 26, 2008; November 6, 2008; January 29, 2009.
~ Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle, 17.94.7, vol. 7, document March 15, 2005. 
~ Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle, 17.2009.10, document February 25, 2009; Meeting Minutes February 12, 2009.
~ Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle, 17.2009.11, document May 12, 2009.

Keywords:

Andreas Zakos (Ανδρέας Ζάκος) and Georgios Antoniou (Γεώργιος Αντωνίου) busts

Andreas Zakosn Georgios Antonioun  Andreas Zakos                                                 Georgios Antoniou

Προτομές Γεώργιου Αντωνίου και Ανδρέα Ζάκου (ΕΟΚΑ 55-59) (1)n

Artist: George Kyriacou

Location: On Linou-Flasou road. Nicosia district.

Dimensions: 163 cm x 57 cm x 53 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for both busts was taken in 1974 by “Amyna” athletic union. However and according to a press clip, the bust of A. Zakos was unveiled on August 16th 1959. Given that both current busts are of very similar style and dimensions, it is probable that the old bust of Zakos was replaced or rearranged within the shared commemorative place created for the two fighters.

Selected sources: 
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), August 18, 1959, p. 2.

Keywords:

Memorial to the EOKA 1955-59 fighters

Μνημείο πεσόντων αγωνιστών ΕΟΚΑ 55-59- Δίπτερο Νίκης (3)n

Μνημείο πεσόντων αγωνιστών ΕΟΚΑ 55-59- Δίπτερο Νίκης (7)n Μνημείο πεσόντων αγωνιστών ΕΟΚΑ 55-59- Δίπτερο Νίκης (4)n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Entrance of Kakopetria village. Nicosia district

Material: Bronze 

Dimensions: 151 cm x 79 cm x 79 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59, Modern sculpture

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The figure is also known as Victory. The implied male fighter is alluded to through the abstract lines and volumes of the sculpture, while the curvy wings could also insinuate a shield, depending on the point of view of the viewer. What is notable in this memorial is the level of abstractness in its forms and volumes, which is remarkably rare in Cypriot memorials and commemorative notions in general. 

The memorial was commissioned by SIMAE (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), Kakopetria Community Committees, a private committee for the monument and the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ). The unveiling took place on June 27th 1993. 

Keywords:

Panayiotis Toumazos (Παναγιώτης Τουμάζος) statue

Ανδριάντας Παναγιώτη Τουμάζου (5)n

Ανδριάντας Παναγιώτη Τουμάζου (13)n

Artist: George Kyriacou 

Location: Area “Saranta-Mili” (40th-Mile), Kakopetria-Troodos road. Nicosia district. 

Material: Bronze 

Category: EOKA 1955-59, Modern sculpture

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

With the exception of the archaic helmet and the shield, and unlike the commemorative tradition in Cyprus, the figure is depicted in a remarkably abstract way, as an ideogram of all male fighters. However, the visual reference to these two items, secure the respect to the ancestral tradition, balancing the bold aesthetic result of the statue.

The statue was commissioned by SIMAE (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), the Kakopetria Community Committee, a private committee for the memorial and the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ). The unveiling took place on June 27th 1993. 

Keywords: