April 12, 2013

Athens daily images: Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square is the main square of Athens and is right in front of the Parliament House.

It was built in 1835 after the wish of King Otto's father, King Ludwig I of Bavaria.

The fountain, in the middle of the square, was ordered by Otto's wife Queen Amalia with whom he shared the Palace which today is the House.

In fact the square was called the Palace's Square until 1843 and the revolution of the 3rd of September under the leadership of Ioannis Makrigiannis.

Greeks rebelled against the tyranny of the palace and demanded a Constitution. The first Constitution(=Syntagma) was signed two months later and the Palace's Square was renamed to Syntagma Square.

Streets Philellinon and Mitropoleos, Syntagma Square,1860

Streets Philellinon and Mitropoleos, Syntagma Square, 2013

"HELLAS, LAND OF THE PROSECUTOR"

A boy is dancing zeimbekiko while the director Dimitris Kollatos is filming him lying on the marble.

Just beyond, citizens quarrel with policemen a little before their protest against austerity and suicides starts.

An unemployed man begs for money.
The poster he holds says he suffers of cancer.

And life goes on.

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