The Kythira Brotherhood of Piraeus – Athens and the Kythira Brotherhood of Australia collaborated to present Professor Georgios Leontsinis’s new book, ««The Shipwreck of the »Mentor» off the Coast of Kythira and the Rescue of the Parthenon Sculptures"
On Sunday, April 7, in the packed hall of the Kythirian Brotherhood in Piraeus—and via an online connection (Zoom), Kythirian expatriates in Australia, representatives of associations and institutions, such as the President of the International Organizing Committee for the Restoration of the Parthenon Marbles, representatives of the Trifyllio Foundation of Kythira, the Society for Kythirian Studies, the Kythirian Association of Athens, the Union of Antikythirians, the Kythira Brotherhood of Melbourne, the Aroni Foundation, and the Kythira Brotherhood of Queensland.
The two presidents of the Kythira Brotherhoods—in Piraeus and Australia—Mr. Parisis and Mr. Zantiotis, respectively, were the first to offer their congratulations on the new book. Next to speak was Mr. Gerasimos Pagratis, professor of Italian History and Culture, specializing in Economic and Social History of the 16th–19th centuries. He is the Chair of the Department of Italian Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, who covered the first part of the book, which examines the consequences of the shipwreck and how it fits into the historical context of the era—from the moment of the event itself until the conclusion of the operation tosalvage operation and the shipment of the sculptures to London.
Ms. Calypso Michalakaki, an Education Consultant with a Ph.D. in Modern Greek History, spoke about the second part, which includes archival material related to the actions that took place, but focuses primarily on the initiatives undertaken after the shipwreck and the shipment of the sculptures to London.
The third part includes, in the form of an Appendix, a wealth of historical sources cited by Mr. Konstantinos Kalligeros, an attorney, drawing on his personal experiences from his acquaintance with Professor Leontsinis at the Kythira High School.
In closing, Professor George Leontsinis spoke emotionally about his encounter with the story of Mentor during his high school years and how those experiences, combined with his academic training, led to the writing of a book.
This was followed by the customary refreshments, and the author signed copies of his book with a personal dedication.
We wish his book every success!
The book is published by the Kardamitsis Book Institute
