Premeti street
Street names and their history were so hard to find in the old times. Imagine that in the 19th century we had all the street names in 15 pages. Now, after a structured and big research from Ms. Vougiouka and Mr. Megaridis we have a perfect and almost complete catalogue of the Athenian street names. They have done a marvelous job going as deep as they could get to the history behind the street names providing us with all the info we could possibly need, and through that we could uncover parts of the history unknown to us and probably connect it to other parts of history we know, completing the puzzle in our heads. The history of the street name i will discuss is Premeti. Premeti is a town in the northern Albania. During the 15th century it was conquered by the Ottomans and they turned it to the Turkish administration of that time. The first albanian school was established in the late 19th century which later was closed because the Turks did not want the muslim students to be taught. In December 4th 1940, during the Greek-Italian war, Premeti was freed and came under the control of the Greeks. Finally, in 1944 Enver Hoxha (the chairman of the Democratic front of Albania) got the city back.
Skartsilakis Emmanouil
Scholiou street
Scholiou street is located in Plaka and it was named after the first school of Athens, which was established under the rule of Bavarian King Otto. It was an all-male school called the A’ Gymnasium of Males (Α’ Γυμνάσιο Αρρένων). I chose to talk about this street because I was curious about its name, as it does not say much; it is simply called “School Street,” which may or may not have lots of history behind it. After researching I figured that it was given this name due to the first school of the capital which was built there. Even though I have never been there, I looked at the google street view of Scholiou and found that even though there is no school at the street anymore, it does look like a schoolyard. Most public schools have graffiti on their walls and Scholiou is actually full of it. It is known here in Athens for the street art present on its walls. There is also a basketball court, which I do not know whether it is locked or not, but the point is that a court is something to be found at almost every school. Thus, today, the street looks like there were high school kids just a while ago before the bell rang for them to go back to their classes.
The link below is the street shown from google maps street view:
By Gkargka Loukia
Lenormant street
Lenormant Charles (1802-1859) was a French archaeologist who toured in Greece (especially the Peloponnese) and published a lot of studies in relation to Greek antiquity.
He was a professor in archaeology and Egyptology in Sorbonne University. He made important excavations in Eleufsina and Iera Odos (“Sacred Way”).
In the hill of Kolonos, there is his memorial, where his heart was buried after the demand of the City council.
This road was early called “Kolokynthias” because the region around it was called Kolokynthous, a place where pumpkins were cultivated (“kolokytha” means pumpkin).
Searching in Vougiouka and Megaridis “Odonymika” for the name of this street, I reflected towards its existence and how fascinated can it be to trace meanings behind those names.
Some are named after family names to value personalities, others are chosen to honor ancient myths.
But who chooses who or what is important to be remembered? Who decides to embrace and honor a memory or on the other hand erase it and forget it. How easily can we forget? What do those names represent without the knowledge of their representation?
by Marion Polemis
Irous Street
Written by: Tiffany Lowery
When I first took the picture of this street name it intrigued me because it was on a very calm street in Sepolia. As I looked into the history of why it is called Irous, I found it was linked to Greek mythology. From my research, the name is about a Greek priestess names Iro who worked for Artimas. She had a lover whom she would meet every day. From the myth it says her lover swam in the ocean every night, one night he lost his way and drowned. The next day Iro saw his floating dead body and jumped in, killing herself. This story is very romantic and similar to Romeo and Juliet, but it is also very dramatic. I think the reason this street was named Irous is to pay tribute to this dramatic story and the lady who tragically lost her lover and her life. I find it interesting that the planners of the city decided to commemorate her with a street name. She was not a goddess or someone with great power who normally are commemorated through naming a street after. Yet, her story was tragic and about love, so the planners decided it was important enough. I like the thought of reminding someone through a street about this story of love and heartache.
Alexandras Avenue
Alexandras avenue was named after princess Alexandra daughter of King George I (second king of Greece) and Queen Olga. She was well-loved by the Greek people. The street was designed in 1876 by Ioannis Genisarlis, with main purpose to connect Patision avenue with Kifisias avenue. The street was completed in 1891, the year of death of princess Alexandra (died after giving birth). In the beginning of 20th century it was just a dirt road and until the mid of the century Tenian marble workshops were extended along the avenue, which has a length of approximately 3km. A number of landmarks were built (some of them still exist) on Alexandras avenue. The Averof juvenile correctional institute which was demolished in 1972 and in its place the “Themidos Melathron” was built which accommodates the supreme court of Greece (Areios Pagos) since 1981. Refugee houses called “prosfygika of Alexandras avenue”, were designed in 1933 and their construction finished in 1936. Their original function was to house a portion of the thousand immigrants that have moved to Greece after the Asia minor catastrophe and were declared as historical landmark in 2009. Finally, on Alexandras avenue we can find the Leoforos Alexandras Stadiium built in 1922 and renamed in Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in 1981 and the building which accommodates police headquarters since 1986.
Submitted by: Stavrogiannis Christos
Solomou’s Sorrowful Street
The street of Solomou was named after the poet Dioysios Solomos. Dionysios Solomos a greek poet, is mostly memorialized for writing the Greek National Anthem. Yet, the poet did not start glamorous, nor did he begin career in Greek writing. Rather, he studied in Pavia, Italy. Although, after not finding much success in Italy, he started writing again in his native tongue, and wrote the Greek national anthem in 1823.
However, the street that is named after him does not resemble a stark similarity. Instead, the street is residential housing, small shops, and busy intersections. The man who wrote the national anthem of Greece has not his name represented to what he created, nor does it house any nationalism on its streets. Perhaps it is melodramatic to claim the street is disconnected from the name, but I believe it is sad that someone who created such a great work is reduced to a street sign, an echo of the anthem created.
Submitted By: Jacob High
Olof Palme Street
Olof Palme Street, Zografou
Olof Palme was a Swedish politician born in 1927. He studied law in Stockholm and in the USA and he became a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. In 1958 he was elected as a member of the Swedish Parliament and, after serving in various political roles, he was elected as the prime minister of Sweden in 1969. He became popular to the socialist movement of Greece due to his stance against the Greek military junta, while he also took action to conciliate the USA and the USSR during the Cold War era. He was assassinated in Stockholm in February 28, 1986. Before being renamed after Palme, the street’s name was Issou, named after the battle of Issus, where Alexander the Great defeat the Persian army in 333 BC.
By Ioannis Katsoudas
Kalliroi’s Street
Kalliroi’s street is named after the most significant water spring of ancient Athens. It was built to be a fountain with 9 water-taps adorned with a lionhead. Young women would take water for their wedding baths and young men would chill their wine in its waters. This fountain would take its waters from the river Ilisos. The street takes it’s name from the shore and water spring of Ilisos river which was called Kalliroi. When the street was first built, covering Ilisos river, it was also named Ilisos street, however later it was named after the water spring Kallirois.
By Dimitris Nakos
Tetrapoleos Street @ Ampelokipoi!
The political and religious union of four cities districts in a single center of administration and religion worship. The following cities: Marathon, Oenoi, Provalinthos as well as Trikorithus were part of Tetrapolis in Attica. They have been religious unites, keeping a common sanctuary. Tetrapoleon Street’s original name was M. Xanzimixail (Michael Xanzimixail 1835-1908), a professor at Medical School of the University of Athens.
It is extremely interesting to question why the street was renamed. The name of the streets honors and respects the history that lays under the given ‘name’. But why to rename the street and bury the importance of M. Xanzimixail? Why to rename it with a name under which a political and religious union event lays? After all who decides what is important to honor and remember after all?
Written by: Anastasia Nikolaou
Anastasia Nikolaou
Anastasia Nikolaou
HSS 2220 Blog 