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The Evzones

Photograph
ca. 1936-1941 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black and white photograph of an Evzone, dressed in his underwear, doing a handstand before the entrance to a building. Two other Evzones stand in the doorway, one of whom watches on.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • The Evzones (series title)
  • That's the way they are dressed underneath
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
Evzone doing a handstand in his underwear
Physical description
Black and white photograph of an Evzone, dressed in his underwear, doing a handstand before the entrance to a building. Two other Evzones stand in the doorway, one of whom watches on.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29cm
  • Width: 23.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • "21" (Caption no. 21 issued by The John Hillelson Agency, accompanied by following text: "That's the way they are dressed underneath.")
  • "COPYRIGHT / THE / JOHN HILLELSON / AGENCY / 145, FLEET ST. LONDON, E.C.4 / Tel. FLEet Street 7664 / BAYswater 7389." (The John Hillelson copyright stamp.)
  • "HERBERT LIST / COPYRIGHT" (Herbert List copyright stamp.)
Credit line
Given by John and Judith Hillelson
Historical context
"The Evzones (the "nicely belted"), the guards of the king of Greece, are worldknown for their extraordinary and beautiful uniform, which dates from the 18th century. It has its origins in the fancy-dress of several Greek mountain provinces and it became the importance of the national dress during the wars of independence.

The actual King's Guards are formed by two hundred men, especially selected among the regular service men. They come from all parts of Greece, besides their moral qualities they have to be 1.80m tall. Military service in Greece lasts 24 months, the soldiers may enter the Guards after a recruit training of three months and a battalion training of three to five months. A soldier gets for the first six months a pay of Drachmes 45 000.- ($1.50) a month, for the last 18 months 60 000.- ($2.00). Four times a week they get a meat meal, mostly meals consist of white beans, potatos [sic], bread.

There are two hundred of them. Their main task is the guard of the several entrances of the Royal Palace in Athens and the King's summer residence in Tatoi. Besides, they have every four weeks to form the guard in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The other weeks it is the turn of the infantry, marine and air force. Each hour the soldiers are relieved."
Statement issued by The John Hillelson Agency.

King Constantine II of Greece (b. 1940) went into self-imposed exile in December 1967 following a military coup in April of that year. The monarchy was abolished by referendum in 1974.
Place depicted
Collection
Accession number
E.296-2003

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Record createdMay 6, 2004
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