If you have passed through Stadiou Avenue in the center of Athens, you have probably noticed the impressive statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek Revolution. The statue is imposing and dominates the homonymous square. It is one of the most important works of Greek sculpture and even the first statue of a mounted man in Modern Greek sculpture.
In 1884, residents of Nafplion (the first capital of Greece after liberation from the Ottoman Empire) raised funds for the creation of a statue. After announcing a competition, they assigned the construction of the statue to Lazaros Sochos, a great sculptor. After doing the necessary research, Sochos decided to depict the hero in his original form. However, due to protestations, he was finally forced to depict Theodoros Kolokotronis wearing a helmet.
Sochos sculpted a masterful and detailed rendering of the hero in the statue. He even studied the faces of living relatives of the hero and used a cast taken from Kolokotronis’ corpse. He created a statue that is iconic and symbolic at the same time. It’s characteristic that the manikin was sculpted between 1891-1895 in Paris and was awarded before it even reached Greece.
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The horse’s stance
The statue’s horse has one of its two front legs in the air which in the international symbolic language of sculpture means that the mounted man died from injuries sustained during the fight. However, it is known that Kolokotronis did not die due to combat wounds. He died of a stroke at the banquet that was given for the wedding of his young son Constantine. It is assumed that the reason why the horse has such a stance is due to the desire to pay an eternal tribute to the hero.
On the front of the pedestal, an inscription is carved: “Ride on, oh Brave General, on the back of your horse, teaching the nations through the centuries, as to how slaves can become free men.” Theodoros Kolokotronis is still gazing at the Athenians to this day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
According to an urban legend, Theodoros Kolokotronis' outstretched right hand with his index finger pointing forward is said to direct toward Istanbul (Constantinople). However, since the statue was moved from its original intended location, researchers remain uncertain about the exact direction the statue was meant to face. The gesture is part of the iconic and symbolic design created by sculptor Lazaros Sochos.
In international symbolic language of sculpture, a mounted figure with one front leg raised indicates that the rider died from injuries sustained in combat. However, Theodoros Kolokotronis actually died from a stroke at his son's wedding banquet, not from battle wounds. The raised leg is believed to be Sochos' deliberate choice to pay eternal tribute to the hero.
The statue was sculpted by renowned Greek artist Lazaros Sochos. It was created between 1891-1895 in Paris for residents of Nafplion, Greece's first capital after independence. The sculpture was awarded a prize even before it reached Greece and is considered one of the most important works of Greek sculpture and the first statue of a mounted man in Modern Greek sculpture.
Lazaros Sochos conducted extensive research to create an authentic representation of Theodoros Kolokotronis. He studied the faces of living relatives of the hero and even used a cast taken from Kolokotronis' corpse. Initially, Sochos wanted to depict the hero in his original form, but due to protests, he was forced to sculpt him wearing a helmet instead.
The Theodoros Kolokotronis statue is located in Stadiou Avenue in central Athens, dominating the homonymous Kolokotronis Square. It commemorates the hero of the Greek Revolution and was funded by residents of Nafplion in 1884. The statue is an iconic tribute to Kolokotronis, depicting him on horseback, as riding was a key element of his military strategy during the fight for Greek independence.
