Catalogue information

LastDodo number
5235857
Area
Postcards
Title
Athénes Garde Royal (Evzon) - Athen Leibgande -Athens Body Guard -
City
Street
Province / region
Country
Year
1977
Collection / set
Number on postcard
Designer
Publisher as on card
General name of the publisher
Dimensions
14.5 x 9.7 cm
Printing technique
Details

Postmarked September 29, 1977 Athinai addressed to De Jong, Hoeksewaard 87 Amstelveen 2 Greek stamps no.260439 Evzonen (literally well-dressed) is the name of the Greek president's elite corps of ceremonial guards. They keep the guard of honor in front of the Greek parliament building on Syntagma Square in Athens, among other places. The Evzonen corps originated as a royal bodyguard under Otto I. Their striking uniform is a reference to the traditional shepherd's clothing of the klefts, the freedom fighters in the Greek war of independence. It became so popular that it is now internationally known as a national symbol for Greece (like the Beefeaters for the United Kingdom).

This text has been translated automatically from Dutch

Click here for the original text