Artist: Nikos Garyfalakis
Location: Junction of Grigoris Afxentiou and Leonidas Kioupi St., Larnaka. Larnaka district.
Material: Marble
Dimensions: 3.40 meters
Category: EOKA 1955-59
Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou
The monument is located close to Larnaka Municipal Library and Municipal Garden. It was commissioned in 1964 by the Larnaka “Lions” Club, Larnaka Municipality and Larnaka-Ammochostos “Salina” club. The unveiling took place twice: the first time on January 24th 1965 and the second on December 8th 1996 due to the reconstruction of the surrounding area.
The monument is also known as Memorial to the Larnaka EOKA 1955-59 fighters. It is dedicated to the memory of Artemis Frantzesco (Αρτέμη Φραντζέσκο), Toumazou Toumazou (Τουμάζου Τουμάζου), Petraki Kyprianou (Πετράκη Κυπριανού), Andrea Souroukli (Ανδρέα Σουρουκλή) and Michalaki Paridi (Μιχαλάκη Παρίδη).
The female figure on the top of the pedestal replicates all the iconic features of the archaic kores. The whole architecture construction bears an absolute symmetry. The stiffness and the rigid frontality of the kori; her verticality underlined by the stylized drapery of the long chiton; and her imposing presence on the high pedestal contradict with the succinct narration of the two depicted fighters.
On the front part of the pedestal, under the relief with the two fallen soldiers, are noted two lines taken from the Greek national anthem “Born from the Greek sacred bones” (Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη των Ελλήνων τα ιερά).
Selected sources:
~Μάχη (Mahi), December 12, 1996.
~Αγών (Agon), September 19, 1996.
~Αγών (Agon), December 10, 1996.
~Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), January 26, 1965, p. 4.
~Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), November 30, 1996.
~Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/14, document April 10, 1996; Meeting Minutes July 5, 1996.
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