Title of the sculpture: Dionysios Solomos

Location: National Garden

Construction: Undated

Material: Marble

Sculptor: Thomas Thomopoulos

Description: Marble bust, resting on a marble base ending in a square pedestal.

A few words about the Poet: Dionysios Solomos (1798 - 1857) is considered the national poet of Greece. His work was a milestone in the creation of the Ionian School, the literary movement of the Ionian Islands in the late 18^th to late 19^th century. Influenced by both Neoclassicism and Romanticism, he composed, apart from short lyrical poems and two prose poems,  longer lyric-epic poems in the vernacular, many of which remained unfinished. In his poem The Free Besieged, the heroism of the defenders of Mesolongi, who despite their hunger continued to resist, is transmuted into a symbol of the struggle of the entire fighting nation. Through his poetry he tried to express the visions of the Greek nation during the Revolution of 1821. In 1865, the first two stanzas of his poem Hymn to Freedom, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, became the national anthem of Greece.

A few words about the Sculptor: The sculptor and painter Thomas Thomopoulos (1873 - 1937) was appointed professor at the School of Arts in 1912. His artistic activity consisted of solo and group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1934, while his works were honored at the Panhellenic Exhibition of 1948.

Sources:
Politis, L. (2017). History of Modern Greek Literature. Athens: M.I.E.T. (NBG Cultural Foundation) p. 142, 147-8, 156
Vitti, M. (1978). History of Modern Greek Literature. Athens: Odysseus p.166
Antonopoulou, Z. (2003). The sculptures of Athens: Open Air Sculpture 1834 - 2004. Athens: Potamos