Presentation of the publication “Το Άγαλμα της Ελευθερίας της Κρήτης” (“The Statue of Cretan Liberty”).

The Foundation and the Philological Association "Hrysostomos" organised an event for the presentation of the book of Christos Mahairidis "Το Άγαλμα της Ελευθερίας της Κρήτης" (“The Statue of Cretan Liberty”) on Saturday, January 31st, 2004 at the Philological Association "Chrysostomos".
The book was presented by Giorgis Manousakis, literature teacher, scholar and member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
The event started with introductory speeches by the Prefect of Chania, Giorgos Katsanevakis, the Deputy Mayor of Hania, Grigoris Arhontakis and the MP of Chania, S. Valirakis. The book presentation was introduced by the Foundation’s CEO, Nikolaos E. Papadakis.
After the presentation by Giorgos Manousakis, views on the subject were expressed by the President of the Philological Association "Hrysostomos", A. Petroulakis, the sculptor, G. Markantonakis and the archaeologist, M. Andrianakis. The event was completed with a brief speech of the writer, Christos Mahairidis relating to the subject of the book.
The book "Άγαλμα της Ελευθερίας της Κρήτης" (“The Statue of Cretan Liberty”) was published by the Foundation and editions EREISMA and refers to the history of the statue, which was located for thirty years at the church of Prophitis Ilias in Hania. The book of Christos Mahairidis is the result of a long and systematic research and presents the history of the statue in its original dimensions. Through the history of the statue -its design, its placing and its removal- the reader discovers the views of the artist, Thomas Thomopoulos, on art, as well as the inspiration and conception of the statue.
The book's rich illustration in combination with the text reveals the influences of the sculptor Thomopoulos, and through cards, the reader can follow the different construction stages of the statue.