The Liberty Monument — Attraction in Nicosia

The Liberty Monument is on the Podocatro Bastion of the city walls, close to the old aqueduct and a couple of minutes walk from the Famagusta Gate. It was erected in 1973 to commemorate the release from prison in 1959 of EOKA fighters. It shows a statue of liberty overseeing two EOKA heroes tugging on chains in order to open prison gates and release Greek Cypriot prisoners, peasants and clergy, from British colonial rule. You will notice that there are no Turkish Cypriot prisoners being released, as they were considered to have been allies of the British during colonial times. For many years a huge statue of Archbishop Makarios looked along the road from the Archbishopric to the Liberty Monument, but public pressure has caused that statue to be removed. There is likewise some embarrassment surrounding the Liberty Monument, to such an extent that it doesn't appear in many guide books. However, unlike the Archbishop, it will probably not be removed. We are, after all, talking about a country where the EOKA terrorists are seen as heroes, and there is still a public holiday named "Eoka Day" every year on...

The history of the proud and brave Cypriot people is difficult and complicated. Since ancient times, Cypriots loved freedom, blue and sunny sky and their own magnificent national culture. The Liberty Monument in the Podocataro Bastion, Nicosia was erected in 1973. The monument paraphrases the prison, which two fighters from Greek Cypriots nationalist guerrilla organisation EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston) had liberated. The statue of a woman who indicates to the blue sky depicts an aspect of liberty. In the underneath part of the Monument, you can see characters coming from the released prison to freedom.

I have visited Cyprus twice. In 2015 and 2018.

Many thanks to all Cypriots for charming hospitality on yours beautiful island and for yours...

The statue has a bullethole in the chest. There is a nice legend behind it.

It's important to know that Athena was believed to be a patron of unified Cyprus by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Since 1950s island was struggling with intercommunal violence and foreign interference from Turkey and Greece. In July 1974 pro-Greece forces made a coup. A few days later Turkish forces landed on the island effectively carving it into two.

During the coup fighting broke out near the monument and one stray bullet hit the heart of Athena statue. Some see it as a symbolic end to all efforts of keeping...