30 FRIDAY 15 JANUARY 2010 NEWS IN ENGLISH Ï Êüóìïò Evzones: The historic Presidential Guard of Greece

The Evzones (Presidential In 1926 a panhellenic Guard) have a history that competition was an- nounced for a design stretches over more than a centu- for a Tomb of the Un- ry. The Presidential Guard was known Soldier. It was to founded on 12 December 1868 be built in front of the as a combatant and at the same main entrance of the Parliament building, time ceremonial force. Gradually facing Syntagma (Con- its role became solely ceremonial, stitution) Square. as can be seen by its changing names: the Palace Guard, the On 9 October 1926 the Ministry for the Flag Guard, the Guard of the Military with ordinance Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, number 219188 award- the Royal Guard and finally, ed the prize to the ar- since 1974 and the restoration of chitect Emmanuel Lazaridis. However the decision to erect democracy in Greece, the the tomb in the afore-mentioned place Presidential Guard. was delayed as it met with many objec- tions and differing opinions. A new com- he barracks where the Presiden- mittee was formed in June of 1928 and tial Guard is based has been in the Cabinet accepted its proposals. In Tthe same place since the force April 1929 work began and the monu- was founded. It is situated close to the ment was completed on March of 1932. present Presidential Man- Its inauguration took place at the time of sion (formerly the Palace) the National Holiday of the same year. on Herod Atticus Street and is called after the The Evzone unit provides a 24-hour chieftain and hero of the honor guard, with an hourly guard 1821 Revolution against change, at the Presidential Mansion and the Ottoman rule, George at Tomb of the Unknown Solider. The Tzavellas. changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in particular has Today the Presidential become a tourist attraction, with many Guard has the following people marvelling at the guards, who s- duties: The deployment tand motionless for two 20-minute inter- of a guard of honour on a vals, during their 1 hour shifts. Every round-the-clock basis at Sunday at 11:00 a ceremonial change of the Tomb of the Un- guards takes place. A parade of Evzones known Soldier, at the the cartridge belt and a M1 Garand se- mi-automatic battle rifle, with bayonet; and a military band starts from the camp Presidential Mansion and of the Evzones (just behind the Parlia- at the gate of the bar- the garters, black for the Evzones and ment Building) and through Vasilissis racks; the official raising and lowering of blue for the officers; the gaiters, the red Sophias Avenue reaches the Tomb of the the flag on the Sacred Rock of the The uniform of the Evzones has a long boots and the 1821 sabre of the officers; Unknown soldier where a ceremonial Acropolis; serving as guard of honour to history, which begins with the warriors and the inside garter, which holds the s- change of guards takes place. On this oc- the President of the Republic and to the (evzones) at the time of Homer and cul- tockings in position, the fringe (blue and leaders of foreign countries; and serving minates in the "foustanella" and "t- white coloured braids, the colours of the casion all the three official uniforms of as guard of honour to the ambassadors sarouhi" at the time of the Turkish Occu- Greek flag) and the "tsarouhia", the tra- the Evzones can be seen. of foreign countries while they present pation. From 1821 onwards the Evzone ditional shoes of the Evzones. The shoes their credentials to the President of the uniform was established as the official are completely hand-made from hard red Along the route from the Presidential Republic. Greek national costume. leather and each sole has 60 nails. Each Guard headquarters on Herod Atticus pair weighs about three kilos. The toe of street, down Vassilissis Sophias avenue Evzones also accompany the Sacred The making of the Evzone uniform is the shoe turns up in a point which is cov- to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, Light on its journey from Jerusalem to not a simple procedure. It requires ered by a black pompom. one can see a white path on the pave- Athens every Easter. knowledge and experience on the part of ment slabs formed by the tsarouchia of the makers, as well as a great deal of Apart from the Evzone uniform, the the Evzones, which symbolises the path The Evzone uniform, as we know it to- time and expense. The uniforms are Presidential Guard also wears the Cretan to the national fights for independence. day, was worn by men-at-arms (arma- completely hand-made. There are two uniform with its characteristic breeches The Evzones never deviate from this toloi) and klephts during the Turkish oc- types of uniform: that of the officer and and knife worn in the belt. The Cretan u- path, no matter what obstacles they meet cupation of Greece (1453-1821), as may that of the private and each has a sum- niform is worn on certain official cere- on their way. be seen in paintings from this period. mer and a winter version. monial occasions. In this way the Presi- The Evzone, with the "foustanella" (a dential Guard represents not only those The Evzones also never leave their kind of kilt) and the "tsarouhi" (rustic The main parts of the Evzone uniform who live on the mainland but also the is- post, for any reason. shoes with pompoms), became a symbol are: the hat made of red baize with a silk landers. Thus the Evzone uniform repre- of the War of Independence. After the tassel; the shirt, white with very wide sents the warrior of the mainland, while A recent example of this was a bomb Revolution of 1821 the uniform of the sleeves; the waistcoat, hand embroidered the Cretan uniform represents the war- explosion targeting parliament. Despite Evzone was officially established as the with great skill. Various designs of great rior of the Greek islands. Recently the a warning call that a home-made bomb uniform of all chieftains and fighters of traditional and folklore importance are traditional uniform of Pontos has also was due to explode in a trash receptacle the Revolution. embroidered on the waistcoat in white or been added. only a few feet away from a Presidential gilt thread; the foustanella, made from Guard sentry post at the Tomb of the After the Second World War the 30 metres of white material, with 400 In 1925 Greece decided to build a Unknown Soldier, the Evzones refused Evzone Regiments were re-organised pleats, representing the 400 years of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an idea to abandon their posts, and were later c- and formed into modern elite light in- Turkish occupation; the breeches, the which had first been proposed and im- ommended in person by President of the fantry units as part of the modernization long red trousers of the officers and the plemented by the French after the end of Republic Karolos Papoulias for their de- of the Hellenic Armed Forces. white woollen stockings of the Evzones; the First World War. votion and courage.