Tag Archives: Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου)

Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) bust

Προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (2)n Προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (4)n

Artist: Chrysostomos Perdios 

Location: Limassol 2nd Technical School. Limassol district

Dimensions: 156 cm x 64 cm 

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken by the Limassol 2nd Technical School Teachers’ Association. The unveiling took place on March 27th 1988.

The bust is the same to the one located at Lysi town in 1962, and was destroyed after the Turkish invasion and the consequent occupation of the northern part of the island. 

Selected sources:
~ Savvidis Christakis, Περιδιαβάζοντας τη Λεμεσό (Strolling around Limassol). Limassol Municipality: 1991.

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Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) statue

Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (1)n Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (9)n

Artist: Leonidas Spanos

Location: Grigoris Afxentiou square, Anexartisias Avenue, Limassol. Limassol district

Material: Brass

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The first decision for a statue dedicated to Grigoris Afxentiou was taken in 1961. At that time a decision was taken to also name the square where the statue would be placed after him. In 1967 an artistic competition was called and Andreas Savvidis’ concept was promoted as the most complete and complying with the requests. However, that work never came into fruition. 

A second initiative for the memorial was taken in 1989 by the Pan Cypriot National-Popular Liberation Front (ΠΕΑΜ/PEAM). The statue was delivered by Spanos during the same year, but the unveiling took place seven years later, on February 25th 1996.

Selected sources:
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), September 10, 1961, p. 1.
~ Μάχη (Mahi), September 3, 1961, p. 1.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 30, 1990, p. 9.
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), November 1, 1967, p. 4. 
~ Χαραυγή (Haravgi), Jun 22, 1968, p. 5. 
~ Savvidis Christakis, Περιδιαβάζοντας τη Λεμεσό (Strolling around Limassol). Limassol Municipality: 1991.

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Memorial to the Lakatamia dead and missing & Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) bust

Μνημείο πεσόντων και αγνοουμένων Λακατάμιας και προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (3)n Μνημείο πεσόντων και αγνοουμένων Λακατάμιας και προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (4)n

Artist: Leonidas Spanos

Location: Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, Lakatamia. Nicosia district

Material: Marble

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59, Inter-communal conflicts 1963-64, Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken by Pano Lakatamia “Grigoris Afxentiou” Democratic union and an ad hoc committee for the memorial who coordinated the fundraising. The unveiling took place on February 16th 1992.

Grigoris Afxentiou’ bust is situated on a tall pedestal and is flanked by a semi-circular marble wall with the names and the black and white photographs of the dead and missing in a time-span of 20 years, from 1954 till 1974 included.

On the pedestal, under his name is noted his nickname as “The Golden Eagle of Machairas” (Ο Σταυραετός του Μαχαιρά).

Selected sources:
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/8, Meeting Minutes July 18, 1991.

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Liberty Monument – Memorial to Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου)

Μνημείο Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (2)n Μνημείο Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (3)n Μνημείο Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (7)n

Artist: Philippos Yiapanis 

Location: Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, Mesa Geitonia, Limassol district 

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial to Grigoris Afxentiou was commissioned by the Mesa Geitonia Cooperative Bank.

This is the second work of Philipos Yiapanis where the concept of liberty/freedom is symbolized by birds. The first one is the “Freedom message to the world” at Agia Napa, Ammochostos district. 

Here the concept is focused on the EOKA fighter Grigoris Afxentiou, the “Golden Eagle of Machairas”, as is evident by the open book where his presumed last words to his co-fighters are noted on the left page, while on the right, the flames insinuate the way he died. 

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Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) bust

Προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (1) n Προτομή Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (3) n

Artist: Fedonas Potamitis 

Location: Grigoris Afxentiou Avenue, in front of Larnaka old hospital. Larnaka district. 

Material: Brass 

Dimensions: 3.34 meters 

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The bust was commissioned in 1988 by Larnaka Municipality and Larnaka “Rotary” Club. The unveiling took place on June 29th 1988. 

Selected sources:
~Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), June 28, 1988, p. 16.

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Grigoris Afxentiou (Γρηγόρης Αυξεντίου) statue

Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (2)n

Ανδριάντας Γρηγόρη Αυξεντίου (16)n

Artist: Nikolaos Kotziamanis 

Location: Grigoris Afxentiou Avenue, Kalo Chorio. Larnaka district.

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The statue was commissioned by the Lysi Municipality during the period in office of A. Ttofia. The Afxentiou’ family participated partially to the expenses. Lysi is situated in the occupied part of Cyprus. Nevertheless, all municipalities and communities in the occupied part operate regularly at the free part of the island, electing their local authorities. 

The statue is an exact copy of the one placed at Machairas area, on Troodos Mountain, made by the same sculptor. On the pedestal it is noted that its placement at Kalo Chorio is temporary, until it will be placed in the “liberated Lysi”. The eagle usually accompanies Afxentiou in his depictions because he was also known by his nickname “Golden Eagle of Machairas”.

It is not known at what point the nickname “Golden Eagle of Machairas” was attributed to Afxentiou. A version points to 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 Afxentiou extensive activity at Machairas and not at Pentadaktylos.

The unveiling took place on January 16th 1994.

 Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), January 15, 1994, p. 9.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/11, document June 8, 1993.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle) 17.94.7 vol. 7, September 22, 2005.

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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.

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