Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) statue

Ανδριάντας Κυριάκου Μάτση (1)n Ανδριάντας Κυριάκου Μάτση (6)n

Artist: Leonidas Spanos 

Location: Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, Lakatamia. Nicosia district

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2008 by Lakatamia National Union “Kyriakos Matsis”. The unveiling took place on October 4th 2009.

On the wall behind the statue, on the (viewer’s) left hand side, are written his words: “I fight for this land, so those who water it with their sweat can live free, able to claim its ownership and management” (Αγωνίζομαι τη γη αυτή να τη ζουν αυτοί που τη ποτίζουν με τον ιδρώτα τους και να περπατούν πάνω της ελεύθεροι, διαφεντευτές της, κυρίαρχοί της). On the right hand side is noted his answer to Field Marshal Harding: “We do not fight for the money, we fight for the values” (Ου περί χρημάτων τον αγώνα ποιούμεθα αλλά περί αρετής).

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 January 31, 2008.

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