The column is “embraced” by seven rectangular plates that correspond to the Ionian Islands which, before the union with Greece, were called the “United State of the Ionian Islands”
It dominates Spianada Square, almost in its center. It is a remarkable architectural monument of historical and monumental appearance that bears the weight of the history of the Ionian Islands and their union with Greece, on May 21, 1864, after they were ceded by Great Britain.
In the center of the monument, on a large circular pedestal, dominates a marble column, about two meters high, which on its front says “UNION 21 MAY 1864”.
The column is “embraced” by seven rectangular plates that correspond to the Ionian Islands which, before the union with Greece, were called the “United States of the Ionian Islands” and included Corfu, i.e. Corfu, Ithaca, Paxos, Kefallonia, Zante , i.e. Zakynthos, Santa Maura, i.e. Lefkada and Tsirigo, i.e. Kythira.
On each of these marble slabs is a brass relief, on which is imprinted a symbol that is intertwined with the mythological history of the respective island always intertwined with Greek mythology.
Thus, the “Apidalos naus” is represented on the Corfu plaque, i.e. the ship without a rudder, the ancient emblem of the city of Corfu which symbolizes the seamanship of the Phaeacians.
On the Lefkada plaque, Velerrefontes is represented with Pegasus. Lefkada acquired Pegasus as its symbol, when around 625 BC. the Corinthians who had expanded towards the Ionian Islands, put, on the coins they minted for Lefkada, the winged ‘Horse’ of Greek Mythology and wrote on them, Lefkadion, or L. Since then Lefkada had Pegasus as its symbol. On the Cephalonia plaque, the mythical progenitor of the Cephalonians, Kephalos, is represented sitting with a spear on his shoulder. According to mythology, Kefalos, son of the king of Phocis Diion or Diioneos, expelled the Televoes from Kefallinia, i.e. Kefalonia, where he settled with his people and gave it his name.
The Zakynthos plaque is said to represent either the founder of the island, Zakynthos, son of Dardanus, king of Troy, who arrived on the island and founded his citadel.
On the Ithaca plaque Odysseus is represented, on the Kythera plaque the goddess Aphrodite. Kythera according to mythology was the place where the goddess Aphrodite emerged and the place where she was worshipped.
Finally, a trident is represented on the Paxos plaque. It is about the trident of Poseidon that lost it hitting hard and detached a piece of southern Corfu. Then the Paxians found her in the sea and made her their emblem.
The entire monument was built in 1972, but its inauguration took place in 1974, after the fall of the junta, during the mayorship of Spyros Rath.
The monument became iconic. The pillar was set on a carved round base and embraced in a horseshoe shape by seven plaques with bronze reliefs of the emblems of the Ionian Islands.
Known for her talent, the pan-Hellenic artist, portrait painter and sculptor Rena Croisier, despite her young age at the time, undertakes to process the seven plaques that will represent the Ionian Islands under the guidance of the initiator of the monument, architect Nane Kolla
“It was my first sculpture, I was only 25 years old,” Ms. Rena Croisier, who was born in Corfu, will tell APE-MPE.
“The reliefs were my own work. My inspiration came from mythological references to the islands and the coins that were minted for each place. From the inspiration to the implementation of the projects, it took seven whole years of study, research and finally engraving performance” confesses to APE-MPE, Rena Croisier.
The monument is visited every day by hundreds of tourists, Greeks and foreigners, while it is especially honored every year on May 21, the anniversary of the Union of Iptanesos with the national body.
RES-EMP
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