Public sculpture in occupied areas (before 1974)
All public art in this category is memorial art. The monuments listed are busts and statues made before 1974 and were located in towns and villages which today make part of the Turkish Cypriot side of the island. The vast majority are dedicated to those who were killed during the various political upheavals of the island. The memorials to the EOKA 1955-59 dead fighters constitute the largest category. The rest commemorate Cypriot personalities such as bishops, politicians or intellectuals. The oldest memorial is a bust dated in 1952, dedicated to Archbishop Makarios II.
In contrast to the rest of the categories listed in this website, there are no photographs available for any of these monuments. The only available information comes from newspaper reports which, as is standard procedure in these cases, comment the lofty deeds of the dead; praise the initiative of the private or state agents; refer to the unveiling, listing the participants on behalf of the state, the church or the local authorities; and, the most extensive among them, include public figures’ speeches, and describe in vivid colors the emotions of the participant crowd.
It is thought that these monuments no longer exist. The current designated Turkish names of the communities next to the original Greek are provided for location reference and factual accuracy.
Nicosia District
Exo Metochi (Düzova)
Panayiotis Charalambous Astaniou (Παναγιώτης Χαραλάμπους Αστανιού) bust
Panayiotis Charalambous Astaniou died during the 1963-1964 inter-communal conflicts. His bust was commissioned to a Greek, unknown, sculptor by the local nationalist unions of Exo Metoxhi. The unveiling took place on August 6th 1972.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), June 18, 1972.
Galini (Ömerli)
Charilaos Michail (Χαρίλαος Μιχαήλ)
Charilaos Michail was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust at Galini village was unveiled on May 8th 1966.
Selected sources:
~ Αλήθεια (Alithia), May 9, 1966, p. 1.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), May 7, 1966, p. 1.
Katokopia (Zümrütköy)
Andreas Protopapas (Ανδρέας Πρωτοπαπάς)
Andreas Protopapas was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust in brass was made by Andreas Savvidis and the costs were covered through fundraising. The unveiling took place on May 14th 1967 at Katokopia village.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), May 14, 1967, p. 1.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), March 31, 1971, p. 2.
Kythrea (Değirmenlik)
Memorial to Spyros Chatziyiakoumi (Σπύρος Χατζηγιακουμή)
Spyros Chatziyiakoumi was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. The commemorative stele was commissioned by the Kythrea nationalist unions and the unveiling took place on January 10, 1960.
Selected sources:
~ Κύπρος (Kypros), January 11, 1960
Morphou (Güzelyurt)
Loukis Akritas (Λουκής Ακρίτας)
Loukis Akritas was a Cypriot politician born in Morphou village. The initiative for his statue in brass was taken by the Morphou community authorities and an ad hoc private committee which coordinated the fundraising.
Yiannis Pappas, a renowned Greek sculptor assumed the commission in 1966. The statue, 2.30 meters in height (2.65 meters according to other sources), was delivered in 1968 and placed in Morphou high school grounds. According to a different source this statue was made by Thodoros Papayiannis, Yiannis Pappas’ student at the School of Fine Arts in Athens. However this version is not accurate because Papayiannis was finishing the School of Fine Arts in Athens in 1966, the year of the commission.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), October 17, 1965, p. 2.
~ Αγών (Agon), February 26, 1966, p. 2.
~ Πατρίς (Patris), February 27, 1966, p. 3.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), February 25, 1966, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), February 23, 1968, p. 3.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), August 1999, p. 33.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), May 7, 1974, p. 4.
Antis Filitas (Άντης Φιλήτας)
Antis Filitas was killed during the inter-communal conflicts of 1963-64. His bust, made in copper by the Greek sculptor Vasos Falireas, was commissioned by the “Morphou Digenis Akritas” association which also coordinated the fundraising. The unveiling took place at Morphou on April 1st 1968.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), August 18, 1967, p. 6.
~ Μάχη (Mahi), April 11, 1965, p. 5.
~ Μάχη (Mahi), June 10, 1967, p. 4.
~ Πατρίς (Patris), August 25, 1967, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), August 25, 1967, p. 1.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), March 31, 1968, p. 7.
Pano Zodia (Yukarıbostancı/Yukarı Bostancı)
Nikolaos P. Yiagos (Νικόλαος Π. Γιάγκου)
Nikolaos P. Yiagos was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust was commissioned by the Pano Zodia Orthodox Christian Youth Union (OXEN). The unveiling took place on February 24th 1963 at Pano Zodia village.
Selected sources:
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), February 20, 1963, p. 3.
Kyrenia District
Karavas (Alsancak)
Memorial to the dead during the Greek War 1912-1918
The memorial was dedicated to the dead volunteers during the Balkan Wars and the First World War. There is very little information available except for a couple of newspaper reports in 1959 and 1967 which mention a commemoration ceremony. The memorial consisted of a commemorative stele and was located in the Karavas’ school.
Selected sources:
~ Ethnos (Ethnos), October 15, 1959, p. 4.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 23, 1967, p. 3.
Kyrenia (Girné)
Archbishop Makarios II (Αρχιεπίσκοπος Μακάριος Β’)
The statue of Archbishop Makarios II was commissioned by the Kyrenia Bishopric and was sculpted by Antonis Sohos, a renowned Greek sculptor. The statue was of 2.45 meters, standing on a pedestal of 1.10 meters and was placed in the square across the Kyrenia Bishopric in November 1952.
Selected sources:
~ Έθνος (Ethnos), January 10, 1952, p. 1.
~ Έθνος (Ethnos), November 2, 1954, p. 1.
Kato Dikomo village (Aşağıdikmen/Aşağı Dikmen)
Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης)
Kyriakos Matsis was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust in copper was made by Andreas Savvidis. It was placed at Kato Dikomo village and was unveiled on April 2nd 1961.
Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), January 27, 1961, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), April 4, 1961, p. 1, 5
Larnaca Lapithou (Kozan/Lapta)
Stelios Mavromatis (Στέλιος Μαυρομάτης)
Stelios Mavromatis was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust at Larnaca Lapithou village was unveiled on May 25th 1969.
Selected sources:
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), May 25, p. 7.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), May 10, p. 6.
Ammochostos (Famagusta) District
Ammochostos (Famagusta)
Loukia Papageorgiou Laoutari (Λουκία Παπαγεωργίου Λαουτάρη)
Loukia Papageorgiou Laoutari is mentioned as the “heroic mother” in the newspaper reports of 1970, when the decision was taken for the commemorative bust. However, there is no other information available to define the circumstances under which she was killed and proclaimed a heroine.
The fundraising was coordinated by the “Mothers of Ammochostos female high school association” which took the initiative for the commemoration. The cost was covered by Ammochostos’ women contributions and later by women’s participation from all over Cyprus. The bust was made by the sculptor Moraitis and was placed at the entrance of Ammochostos (Famagusta) female high school. The unveiling took place on June 2nd 1968.
Selected sources:
~ Αλήθεια (Alithia), June 3, 1968, p. 1.
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), July 14, 1970, p. 2.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), October 10, 1963, p. 6.
Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου)
Grigoris Afxentiou, or “The Golden Eagle of Machairas” as he is also known, is an iconic figure of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle. His bust made in marble was commissioned by Evagoras Pantelidis, inhabitant of Ammochostos (Famagusta). The bust was placed at Nikis (Victory) Square across Ammochostos Town Hall and the unveiling took place on October 2nd 1960.
Selected sources:
~ Αλήθεια (Alithia), October 1960, p. 1, 6
~ Έθνος (Ethnos), August 7, 1960, p. 6. .
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), August 7, 1960, p. 8.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), October 4, 1960, p. 3.
Pouliou (Πουλίου) & Kapota (Καποτά) Military Officers, and Kostakis Pantelidis (Κωστάκης Παντελίδης) Policeman
The three Greek officers were killed during the 1963-64 inter-communal conflicts. Their busts were unveiled on May 17th 1970 at Ammochostos (Famagusta) Town Hall.
Selected sources:
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), May 16, 1970, p. 3.
Panayiotis Toumazos (Παναγιώτης Τουμάζος)
Panayiotis Toumazos was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter and his bust was unveiled in 1961 at Varossi (Varosha, Famagusta ‘Ghost Town’).
Selected sources:
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), October 24, 1961, p. 4.
Assia village (Paşaköy)
Ilias Papakiriakou (Ηλίας Παπακυριακού)
Ilias Papakiriakou was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter, one of the four who died during the Liopetri Barn fight. His bust was commissioned in 1961 by the nationalist unions of Assia village.
Selected sources:
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), February 1960, p. 3.
~ Μάχη (Mahi), July 28 1961, p. 6.
Komi Yialou (Kumyalı)
Andreas Paraskevas (Ανδρέας Παρασκευά)
Andreas Paraskevas was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His bust in brass was made by Andreas Savvidis. An ad hoc private committee took the initiative and coordinated the fundraising. The unveiling took place during 1971 at Komi Yialou village.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), March 31, 1971, p. 1.
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), March 31, 1971, p. 1.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), March 31, 1971, p. 2.
Lefkoniko (Geçitkale)
Anastasis P. Zavros (Αναστάσης Π. Ζαβρός)
Anastasis P. Zavros was killed during the 1963-64 inter-communal conflicts. His bust in brass was made by Georgios Kyriakou in 1970 and was placed at Lefkoniko village, his birthplace.
Selected sources:
~ Αγών (Agon), February 8, 1970, p. 6.
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), February 8, 1970, p. 1.
~ Μάχη (Mahi), February 8, 1970, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), February 8, 1970, p. 1.
Vasilis Michailidis (Βασίλης Μιχαηλίδης)
Vasilis Michailidis was a Cypriot poet. His bust was made by Georgios Kyriakou in 1971 and was placed at the Archagelos Michail church yard in Lefkoniko village, close to the house where he was born.
Selected sources:
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), March 6, 1971, p. 3.
Limnia (Mormenekşe)
Nikodimos Mylonas, Bishop of Kition (Μητροπολίτης Κιτίου Νικόδημος Μυλωνάς)
Nikodimos Mylonas, Bishop of Kition, was a fervent supporter of the official union with Greece, the énosis ideology. His bust was unveiled on October 27th 1963 at Limnia village. It was made by the sculptor Nikos Sofialakis and the cost was covered by Loizos Chatzianastasis, cousin of Bishop Nikodimos.
Selected sources:
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), October 25, 1963, p. 6.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), October 29, 1963, p. 5.
Lysi (Akdoğan)
Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου)
Grigoris Afxentiou bust was commissioned by Christos Chatzipavlou and was made by Chrisostomos Perdios. The unveiling took place in Lysi town on April 1st 1962.
Selected sources:
~ Κύπρος (Kypros), April 2, 1962, p. 6
~ Παρατηρητής (Paratiritis), December 4, 1961, p. 4.
Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου)
Grigoris Afxentiou bust, made in brass, was donated to Lysi town by the Municipality of Rhodes Island, Greece. The bust was made by Ioannis Papastergis and the unveiling took place on November 5th 1961. According to newspaper reports in 1986, the bust was destroyed by the Turkish in an attempt “to erase any Greek trace from the occupied areas”.
Selected sources:
~ Σημερινή (Simerini), March 29, 1986, p. 10.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 24, 1961, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 28, 1986, p. 9.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), November 7, 1961, p. 4.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), September 14, 1974, p. 4.
Memorial to the dead of Lysi
A memorial to the Lysi volunteers and the EOKA 1955-59 fighters seems to have been located in close proximity to the Grigoris Afxentiou’ bust which was donated by the Municipality of Rhodes Island, Greece. No further information is available.
Selected sources:
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), November 7, 1961.
Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz)
Petros Yiallouros & Panayiotis Kaspis (Πέτρος Γιάλλουρος & Παναγιώτης Κασπής)
Petros Yiallouros and Panayiotis Kaspis were EOKA fighters. Their busts, made in marble were commissioned by the Rizokarpaso community. The unveiling took place in November 1961 at Agios Synesios square of Rizokarpaso. According to a newspaper report in 1999, the busts were removed in August 1974 by the Turkish and a bust of Kemal Atatürk took their place.
Selected sources:
~ Εργατική Φωνή (Ergatiki Foni), November 17, 1961.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 4, 1999, p. 14.
Stylli (Mutluyaka)
Theodosis Chatzitheodosiou (Θεοδόσης Χατζηθεοδοσίου)
Theodosis Chatzitheodosiou was an EOKA 1955-59 fighter. His statue was unveiled in 1971 at Stylli village.
Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), February 24, 1971, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 3, 1971, p. 3.
Vatili (Vadili)
Markos Drakos (Μάρκος Δράκος)
Markos Drakos is an iconic figure of EOKA 1955-59 struggle. His bust in brass was made by Georgios Kyriakou in 1971 and was placed in Vatili village.
Selected sources:
~Αγών (Agon), October 1971, p. 3.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), October 27, 1971, p. 2.