Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, Greece
Changing of the Guard by the Evzones in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square outside the Greek Parliament in Athens. The marble relief in the background is a copy of an ancient warrior grave stele, depicting a hoplite lying dead on a small slab. The dying hoplite is flanked by two quotations by Thucydides, from Pericles' Funeral Oration "... and one bed is carried empty, made for the unknown ones", and "For eminent men, every place is (worthy) burial ground". The Evzones, or Evzoni, is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Proedriki Froura (Presidential Guard), an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Hellenic Parliament and the Presidential Mansion. The Evzones are also known, colloquially, as Tsoliades. Though the Presidential Guard is a predominantly ceremonial unit, all Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army's Infantry, Artillery and Armoured Corps. Prospective Evzones are usually identified at the Army Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training; there is a minimum height requirement of meters to join, and the soldier must serve a minimum of 6 months with an operational Army unit before beginning Evzone training. The unit is famous around the world for its unique traditional uniform, which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece, Southern Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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