Object ID
2008.37.220.A
Object Name
Pin
Material
Metal
Object Entities
Damianos, John (is related to)
Damianos, Aristotle (is related to)
Lambrikis, Grigoris (is related to)
Object Description
Round pin. White with a Greek keystone design around the outside of the circle in black. in the center is a faded upper case "Z" in light grey. Over it, in black are the words "FREE GREECE" all in capital letters. "FREE" is situatuated directly over "GREECE". In the back, the pin hook is at the upper back of the pin. The back itself is unpainted tin and unmarred. One of the pins has a small piece of paper torn off which sticks to the upper back of the rim of the pin.
Origin
The statements on the pins are in reference to the assassination of Greek democratic politician Grigoris Lambrakis. Lambrakis participated in the 2nd World War in resistance against the occupation and was also an athlete, having held the Greek record for long-jump for 23 years (1936-1959). He also earned several gold medals in the Balkan games, set up the "Union for Greek Athletes". He also was a lecturer in the department of Gynecology and opened clinics to help the poor receive medical care. He was elected to the Pan-democratic Agrarian Movement of Greece on the ticket Eniaia Dimokratiki Aristera; a party of the far-left. Lambrakis was an advocate against war and against nuclear armaments, promoting pacifism. He both participated and lead initiatives in this effort which gained great support by the Greek people. He was assassinated on May 22, 1963 after giving a speech in Thessaloniki. In sight of police and the crowd, two men in a three wheeled vehicle drove up and knocked him in the head with a club. The investigation was headed by Christos Sartzetakis who found that the act had been orchestrated by a far right-wing organization. On May 27th, 1963, Grigoris Lambrakis died of the head injury and the public reacted with revulsion, adopting the upper case "Z" as a slogan meaning "he lives" and using it to express their outrage of the attack and carry on Lambrakis' legacy.
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.

Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Pin, Greek Art Printing Company Artifact Collection, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/10380. Accessed 03/28/24.