The mother – a refugee from Asia Minor in graffiti in Nea Alikarnassos

A graffiti created in one of the most central parts of Nea Halicarnassus in Heraklion depicts the Asia Minor mother who left her country behind and took the path of refugee. The region is one of those where refugees from Asia Minor settled and who to this day maintain the customs and ties to the place of their ancestors. Speaking to APE-MBE, the president of the “Artemisia” Cultural Association, Eleni Aspetaki, said that the initiative to create this graffiti was directly connected to the actions that are taking place this year on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Disaster.

“On the occasion of the 100 years and because the anniversary events have a wider appeal, in the list of actions for the celebration, we included the graffiti of an image reminiscent of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, which the passer-by can see. An image that emphasizes our origin, the feeling one feels when going back to the past and one’s roots” said Ms. Aspetaki.

The graffiti depicts the Asia Minor mother holding a child in her arms and another one next to her. Her look is sad and scared, taking the path of the refugee.

“The image of this mother is the image of every mother who was associated with the Asia Minor disaster. She is scared and sad, behind her is the place she is leaving – her homeland – and in front of her is the place she came to. Spyros Zacharopoulos, who edited the graffiti at the invitation of the Association, created behind the mother and her children a scene from Old Halicarnassus. You can see Agios Nikolaos, the Castle of Halicarnassus and the houses of the area. The point she is looking at is New Halicarnassus, her new hometown, where she settled“, added Ms. Aspetaki.

The graffiti was made in one of the most central points of the area, at the junction of Ikaros and Herodotos avenues.

“We are tied to the memories of our ancestors but also to our roots. The interesting thing is that with this place and all that it carries, not only people who had an Asia Minor origin, but also people who settled here and came into contact with the Asia Minor element were connected. People who accepted this influence and adopted it in their daily life“, noted Mrs. Aspetaki, who added that the customs from Asia Minor that their ancestors brought from their homeland are largely preserved to this day.

“We have to preserve these customs and the Cultural Association is a point of reference. It is touching to see younger and older people participating in actions and customs, which due to their preservation and the love with which we protected them, are part of everyday life, which we hope will remain unchanged over time. In this way we honor our people, we honor the homeland they left behind, their hope that they will find a new homeland and the effort to rebuild their lives from scratch“, concluded the president of the Cultural Association of New Halicarnassus “Artemisia”.

RES-EMP

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