Visit of SHP to the birthplace of the great German Philhellene and hero of the Greek Revolution, Heirich Treiber

 

 

On the occasion of the 225th anniversary from the birth of the great Philhellene chief physician Heirich Treiber (1796 – 1882), the member of the advisory committee of SHP Costas Papailiou and his wife Margarita, visited the birthplace of the great Philhellene, the beautiful town of Meiningen in Thüringen, and paid tribute to the Treiber family tomb, which has been declared a protected monument in the area. They also located the Treiber’s family home in Meiningen Square, where his father ran the Pharmacy of the Court.

 

 

More details about Heirich Treiber and his enormous contribution to the Greek Revolution of 1821 can be found on the SHP’s website:

 

Heinrich Treiber, German doctor, great Philhellene, present during all important moments of the Greek Revolution

 

The descendants of the Italian Philhellene Michele Roccavilla at the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Philhellenism Museum had the pleasure and honor to host at its premises the descendants of the great Italian Philhellene Michele Roccavilla who fought on the side of the Greeks during the War of Independence, and sacrificed himself for Greece.

The staff guided Alberto and Anna Roccavilla to the Museum and its collections. They then discussed the biography of their great ancestor and hero of the Greek Revolution and the contribution of the Italian Philhellenes to Greece and exchanged information on their sources and bibliography.

Mr. Alberto Roccavilla donated to the Museum the very important book he has written, presenting the life and work of his ancestor.

Alberto and Anna Roccavilla offered to help SHP and the Philhellenism Museum to seek information about other Italian Philhellenes, especially from the Piedmont area and to identify their descendants.

SHP thanked Alberto and Anna Roccavilla and announced its decision to honor them with the Lord Byron Medal at the relevant ceremony that will take place in 2022.

The following is a brief biography of their important ancestor.

Roccavilla, Michele (-1827). Italian Philhellene from Revello. Officer of the Sardinian Army. He was exiled from his country, due to the failure of the Italian patriotic revolution in March 1821, in which he had participated. At the end of 1825 he joined the Regular Army as a major under the orders of the French Philhellene Charles Fabvier. He distinguished himself in the battle of Chaidari on August 6, 1826, where he saved the Regular Army from an eventual destruction, due to the Turkish armament superiority. He was also distinguished in the siege of the Acropolis of Athens from the end of August 1826 until the defeat of the Greeks in the battle of Analatos, on April 24, 1827. Then he fell ill and was transferred to Methana, where he died on October 24, 1827.

 

The environment, Sophocles and Philhellenism – Boris Johnson spoke ancient Greek at the UN General Assembly

 

 

Boris Johnson spoke ancient Greek at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2021.

The British Prime Minister asked the citizens to mobilize for the environment, with references to Sophocles: “Sophocles had said “πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει“. The human species is wonderful. It is scary, but also admirable.

Boris Johnson used Antigone, “there are many terrible things, but there is nothing more terrible than man”, to emphasize that people are capable of evil, but also good, and asked humanity to mature.

He then called on all countries to participate in the 26th United Nations Conference on the Environment to be held in Glasgow in October 2021.

Boris Johnson, proved that philhellenism remains a corner stone of western civilization and a cultural package which contains solutions for all the challenges that humanity faces over time.

SHP and the Philhellenism Museum support the International Symposium «Das befreite Griechenland und die klassische Antike» for the period 1821-2021 at the University of Graz

 

 

SHP and the Philhellenism Museum supported the International Symposium «Das befreite Griechenland und die klassische Antike» («The liberated Greece and the Classical Antiquity (1821-2021)») and the accompanying periodical exhibition, held at the University of Graz in Austria, during September 16-18, 2021. The initiative was taken by the Lecturer of Classical Archeology at the University of Graz, Elli Papazoi and was placed under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece in Austria.

The naval battle of Agali (Itea) – September 17, 1827

 

 

It was the great moment of the emblematic British Philhellene, founder of the Greek Navy, captain of Karteria and national benefactor of Greece, Frank Abney-Hastings.

This naval battle was also one of the greatest moments of Philhellenism. The Greek fleet with Admiral Frank Abney-Hastings, captains of the other ships the Danish-German Fabricius, the British Georges Thomas and the French general Dentzel, and dozens of other philhellenes and Greek sailors, destroyed the entire Turkish fleet in the Gulf of Corinth, opening the road to the liberation of mainland Greece. The African-American Williams also took part in this naval battle, leading a group of 15 sailors to take back control of the Greek ship Savior that had been left unmanned.

SHP and the Philhellenism Museum honor the Philhellenes volunteers who participated in the naval battle of Agali (Itea), displaying in the Museum of Philhellenism the personal pistols of Frank Abney-Hastings, which were used in this naval battle.

You may find the biography of Frank Abney-Hastings here:

 

Frank Abney Hastings British Commander, Philhellene, founder of the Hellenic Navy, hero of the Greek Revolution, national benefactor of Greece

 

225 years since the birth of the Philhellene Daniel Elster: Event in Germany

 

 

In 2021, apart from the great anniversary of the 200 years since the beginning of the national liberation struggle of the Greeks, 225 years have passed since the birth of the important philhellene and composer Johan Daniel Elster. This Philhellene survived the catastrophic battle of Peta and is the only eyewitness on what happened there. He described these historical events in detail in his well-known book “The Battalion of the Philhellenes”.

An honorary event will take place on this occasion on September 12, 2021 in the birthplace of Elster in Benshausen, Germany, in which the keynote speaker will be Professor Kostas Papailiou, member of the Advisory Committee of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism. In his speech, Mr. Papailiou will refer to the great role of Philhellenism in the National Uprising.

THE GOOSE GAME Renewed by the Greeks

 

 

We present to you the renewed board game from the collection of the Philhellenism Museum It is a game that traces its roots to ancient Greece, and the feats of Theseus, who crosses the galleries of the labyrinth in search of self-knowledge and triumph. This game has been played in Europe since the 16th century. In the 19th century it conquered the Philhellenic circles and the edition of the time symbolizes the liberation struggle of the Greeks in 1821.

The board of the game is a copy of the one Philhellenes used to play in the 19th century.

The pawns of the game are small busts of Lord Byron in 4 colors.

For more information please visit our Art Shop:
https://phmus.org/en/product/the-goose-game/

 

Lord Byron (1788 – 1824)

A restless and creative spirit, inspired by the values of Hellenic culture, in the early 19th century directs literature and intellectual life into new paths. He impresses with his poetic work, identifies with the Romantic Movement, is admired and worshipped internationally. Like Theseus and Odysseus, he sometimes succumbs to his weaknesses and sometimes faces them down, all the while on the look-out for a noble goal that will redeem him. Finally he transforms himself into a political and military being and identifies with the cause of the Greek revolution. His death in Missolonghi in 1824 shocked international public opinion, gave an explosive dimension to the international philhellenic movement, and turned the cause of Greece’s independence into a just vindication for his loss.

 

A delegation of the Academy of Athens visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

A delegation of the Academy of Athens visits the Philhellenism Museum.

The members of the Academy were given a tour of the Museum, were informed about the collections and the archives of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and examined prospects for future cooperation.

The photo shows the Members of the Academ Mr. Michalis Tiverios, Ms. Chryssa Maltezou, Mr. Paschalis Kitromilidis, the Ad H Ambassador Mr. Dimitrios Tsikouris, Mr. Constantinos Velentzas and the executive of the Academy of Athens Ms. Louiza Karapidaki.

The story of the great German Philhellene Heinrich Treiber

Professor Nikos Apostolidis, member of the Advisory Committee of SHP, talks about his important ancestor and his contribution to the Greek Revolution.

Read more

The President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, donated the flag of the European Union to the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, donated a flag of the European Union to the Philhellenism Museum. The flag was handed over to the Museum by Mr. Philippe Kamaris, from the Liaison Office of the European Parliament (EP) in Athens.

Mr. Kamaris was given a tour of the Museum, he saw the exhibits, and was informed about the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role played by European Philhellenes who fought bravely on the side of the Greeks as volunteers, and by European politicians, artists and intellectuals who supported the philhellenic movement during the Greek war for independence.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) recalled that the Philhellenic movement helped Europeans understand their common values ​​and roots. It inspired thousands of young people to support the struggle of the Greeks, and many of them, even former enemies, to fight under the same flag for the same ideals.

These actions and the expression of solidarity with Greece, led to the first common European policy that emerged after the Treaty of London of 1827, and culminated with the Battle of Navarino and the establishment of the Greek state.

SHP also presented to the European Parliament the model of the Philhellenes monument that will be placed in the centre of Athens, on Vasilissis Sofias Street.

During the handover of the flag, Mr. Kamaris shared on behalf of the European Parliament the warm greetings of EP’s President Mr. Sassoli. In the words of the President, 2021 coincides not only with the bicentennial of the Greek revolution, but also with the 40th anniversary of Greece in the EU, fully re-joining the European family – a proof of the in temporal nature of the values of philhellenism.

SHP assured the President of the European Parliament that it will continue, together with the Museum of Philhellenism, to promote with its work the common cultural values ​​of Europe, and the continuous Philhellenism, as a virtue serving the continuous progress of our societies.