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THE FACES OF THE REVOLUTION

Until now, to see portraits of the revolutionary fighters and scenes from the Revolution from up close you would have to visit a museum like the National Gallery. Not anymore. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, young artists, students and graduates of the Athens School of Fine Arts have painted 10 public murals of heroes in certain selected cities of the Peloponnese.

Through the language of graffiti and the scientific supervision of the School of Fine Arts, personalities, events and works of the time become an integral part of modern life and come to life again in the streets before your eyes.

Historical moments of the Revolution and portraits of the great fighters emerge unpredictably, but fully in harmony with the life of the city, on buildings and streets, in Pylos, Kalamata, Areopolis, Kardamili, Nafplio, Corinth and Tripoli.

You will be surprised to see that even lesser-known aspects of the struggle unfold through these murals: from Monemvasia and Trifylia to Messina, where the words that Kolokotronis wrote to Ibrahim stand haughtily and as they are: “the inanimate trees do not oppose anyone, only men oppose themselves… Why burn our trees and burn our earth if they will not rise up… ».

The faces of the Revolution are here, in Moria, waiting for you to discover them.

KALAMATA

CORINTH

TRYFILIA

WEST MANI – KARDAMILI

EAST MANI – AREOPOLI

MONEMVASIA

  • Kalamata Murals
    Kalamata Murals
    • Kalamata

      Kalamata

      Kalamata was the first big city to be liberated from the Ottomans, marking the start of the Revolution on Greek territory. On 23rd March, leaders of the Revolution liberated the city. This is commemorated in a mural illustrating the city’s liberators.

  • Corinth Murals
    Corinth Murals
  • Nafplio Murals
    Nafplio Murals
    • Nafplio

      Nafplio

      Nafplio, also known as Anapli, was the heart of the Revolution for many years. It was handed over to Kolokotronis in 1822 and turned into the headquarters of the Greek State, governed by I. A. Kapodistrias. The mural honours these two personalities whose names are inextricably tied to the history of the city.

  • West Mani Murals
    West Mani Murals
    • West Mani

      West Mani

      Kardamyli of Messinia, headquarters of the West Mani Municipality, is a seaside village with exceptional natural beauty and rich with monuments and history. This is where Nikitaras swore in Petrobeys and where provisions and equipment came from Smirna, received by Nikitaras himself. The mural is dedicated to these two heroes of the Revolution.

  • Areopolis Murals
    Areopolis Murals
    • East Mani

      East Mani

      Areopoli is a traditional and historical city, home to the Mavromichalis family. It became inextricably linked to the Revolution when, on 17th March 1821, the flag of the revolution was blessed in the Church of the Taxiarchon in the presence of Petrobeys Mavromichalis. The mural honours the Revolution and the leadership of the people of Mani.

  • Messini Murals
    Messini Murals
    • Messini

      Messini

      The small town of Nision played a leading role both in the Revolution and in the failed Orlov Revolt, for both of which it paid a high price. When Ibrahim cut down Messini’s olive trees in 1827 to force the locals to surrender to him, Kolokotronis wrote him a letter stating “The lifeless trees cannot turn against you, only people can turn against you… Even if you burn our trees, you can’t take away our soil”. The mural is inspired by the rivalry between these two men.

  • Monemvasia Mural
    Monemvasia Mural
    • Monemvasia

      Monemvasia

      The castle-town of Monemvasia, known for its medieval fortress, was besieged at the end of March 1821 by locals from Mani and Tsakonia. It was surrendered to them on 23rd July, 1821. The mural depicts the face of Alexandros Katakouzinos, a Greek, Russian-educated politician, prince and landowner, who was a member of the Society of Friends and confidant of Ipsilantis. Katakouzinos played an important role in the surrendering of the Monemvasia fortress.

  • Tripoli Murals
    Tripoli Murals
    • Tripoli

      Tripoli

      The many-month long siege of Tripolitsa, formerly also known as Dropolitsa, was extremely significant for Kolokotronis and the Revolution. The fall of Tripolitsa, which was the most secure Ottoman region in Southern Greece, was crucial for the liberation of the Peloponnese. The mural in Klonatzidika pays homage to, as well as Kolokotronis, Panagiotis Kefalas, a fighter who went down in history for his fortifications and the siege of the city.

  • Pylos Murals
    Pylos Murals
    • Pylos

      Pylos

      Pylos, also known as Navarino or Nioastro, is where the famous Battle of Navarino took place, concluding the defeat of the Ottomans with the destruction of their Ottoman-Egyptian fleet in the bay’s port in 1827. This monumental battle (the last in history to be fought between sailboats) marks the official moment when the Great Powers shifted their loyalty towards the Greeks. This is commemorated with a mural depicting “The victorious admirals, 1827”.

  • Tryfilia Mural
    Tryfilia Mural
    • Tryfilia

      Tryfilia

      Kiparissia (Arkadia) was the epicenter of the Revolution in the Tryfilia province. The Protosyncellus of Kiparissia (Arkadia), Amvrosios Frantzis, played a leading role in the Revolution and was also a member of the Society of Friends. Other than being a pioneer of the fight for Independence, he was also the first historian of the Greek Revolution and wrote “The Epitome of the History of a Greece Reborn”. He is pictured in the Mural.

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