The men behind Greece's presedential guard soldiers
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- (23 May 2018) LEADIN:
It might be the effect of the short white pleated kilts, tasseled black garters and pompom-tipped shoes, but there's something more endearing than intimidating about Greece's best-known military unit.
Which helps explain why the Presidential Guard is one of Athens' most popular tourist attractions, vying for camera clicks with the millennia-old ruins of Greece's Golden Age.
STORYLINE:
Membership of Greece's Presidential Guard is a prestigious posting.
All its members are conscripts picked for height and posture and must demonstrate their devoutness by belonging to the Orthodox Church of Greece.
Their function is to stand sentry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and outside the residence of Greece's titular head of state, keeping unflinchingly still for hours when not performing a routine of ponderous leg and arm swings and crashing presentations of arms.
But during Greece's years of financial meltdown, the guards have several times been forced to abandon their posts as anti-austerity protests turned violent next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is just in front of parliament, with the sentry posts occasionally burnt down.
Created 150 years ago as a fighting force that distinguished itself in a series of wars, the unit is now purely ceremonial in function, codifying in its dress and routine a popular conception of Greekness that evolved since the modern Greek state was formed nearly two centuries ago.
Its Greek name - Evzones, or well-girt (girdled) youths - is a 3,000-year-old word reactivated in the 19th century as the fledgling country strove to cement its blood ties with the glories of antiquity.
The complex uniform was inspired by the highland dress worn while Greece was still in thrall to the Ottoman Turkish empire, although the authentic, long version of the kilt was probably pioneered by southern Albanian settlers allied with the Turks.
The distinctive pompom shoes are handcrafted with comfort in mind explains cobbler (shoe maker) Giorgos Dermatas.
"We try to make it as perfect as possible because the Evzones stand at the monument (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) and it has to be (comfortable)."
The kilts are now drastically shorter than those sported by the rugged revolutionaries fighting the Turks in the Greek War of Independence.
In another novelty, they are made with exactly 400 pleats to symbolise the roughly four centuries of Turkish dominion that the revolution brought to an end, while the ornately-embroidered waistcoat bears secret Orthodox Christian symbols.
The clothes take months to make, with most of the effort going into the needlework - a dying art in a country where that type of costume went out of fashion well over a century ago, being replaced by the "Frankish" clothing of the West.
Tailor Vangelis Lazos says they look to the past to find historical techniques to make the costumes more authentic.
"I can say that we are the last workshop in Greece that makes authentic, traditional costumes. With everything being technologically advanced now, instead of looking forward, we look to the past, looking for techniques we don't know about and whatever we find from old practices, we include it into our craft."
The guard's perfect appearance is everything to the tailors adds Lazos.
"We live with the Evzones next to us. We live with tradition. Every day we experience tradition because the boys are dressed as Evzones. When we see that something isn't perfect, if the Evzone isn't okay, we feel that we're not doing our job right, so we run to meet their needs."
A symbol of Greek pride and history.
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Love Evzones, much respect to the Greek presidental guard. Zito Hellas from the US 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇷
FYI, Evzones means slim waste.
@@nikolaosmark5812 no...it does not
@@dt4886 It comes from the ancient Greek "EV" which means "Good/fair/pretty/nice" and Zone ( well, Zone/Waste ). Homer described the Evzones as those with nice/slim and well-armed waste.
@@Chaos-Nyx-Erebus the second part doesnt mean the waste or the one with slim waste. It comes from the Greek word ζωσμενος which literally comes from the notion armored meaning the word well armed. It came from Armatolous which were well armed soldiers hired by the Ottomans as constables in an area.
British: Nooo you can't put our queen's guard's furry helmets on your shoes :(
Greece: Haha knife hide step clack
I know that that is a joke but that uniform was used a lot earlier than the British so that furry I guess i can say that they "stole" it
i love Greek People thank you to all
We love you too. Kisses from Greece!
Respect and honor 👍
@@leo2a6hel16 38 cm, loves fustenalla
@@j.sansur730 you have problem??
@@user-sw2yp4gx8t yes , help me
@@j.sansur730 why I help you?
@@user-sw2yp4gx8t because we are neighbour and you have Turkish blood.
Greek soldiers🇬🇷🇬🇷❤❤❤
...its not very difficult to imagine an Evzone as a Spartan Hoplite in a crested helmet, greaves and bronze breastplate....
Sparta won the battle, Athens the war. They're Athenian Hoplites. Additionally, Achille's Myrmidons and Argyraspides ( Silver-Shields ) of Alexander the Great's personal guard. Alright, alright, Spartans as well. A fair mix since Greece is united again.
Nice,love from turkey.dont let politics corrupt us we are brothers 🇬🇷💙❤️🇹🇷
Shut up dickhead, you both suck.
Yes we shouldn't but im afraid that politics have already corrupted us
@@georgepapanikolaou2894 What "corrupted" your mind is the fact, when Turks arrived in the area from the Steppes of Asia being wild Nomads, they plunged the place into Darkness and Obscurantism. By constantly killing Greeks, they deprived the world of its light. A world without Greeks was doomed into Medievalism, as it happened. This is why the world and especially the West don't like the Muslim Turks. I know it sounds harsh, however, the naked truth remains. Later, since the Greeks fought and won their independence 200 years ago, they now run to catch up with the rest of Europe. Greece is still behind 'cause of Turks. I don't know what Hubris the Greeks did commit which made Zeus angry in order to send such a punishment upon them. Zeus in collaboration with his brother, Cronus, the God of the Underworld, brought the backward Turks in the neighborhood. None deserves to have Turks as neighbors. That's what corrupts you mind.😔
Subtitles please ! We would love to know what is being said .
It says about the Greek euzones. Did you know that they hide knifes one their shoes bon bon?
This is the best. Really learn and understand. THANKYOU
Υποκλεινομαστε
By far the funniest changing of the guard in the whole world
Consider that this is the "militarized" and "standardized" version of the otherwise best male civilian garments of the War of Independence Era.
This is not military stuff by design or purpose.
But back in those times Greeks guerillas were of course fighting in plain clothes. There was no state yet, let lone an organized army.
All the Nation was Army and this is how a common Sunday outfit became a sacred uniform.
POV: You're an idiot that decides to touch a guard.
Royal Guards: DO NOT TOUCH THE QUEEN'S GUARD!!!!!!
Evzones: *tiks their guns* Oh yeah?
We are the best wooohoooo keep Greece Greek, thank u.
I read someplace that the pompoms were for cushioning toes when rapidly climbing up and down rocks, as in battles of olden epochs. For hiding knives--that's funny!
Pompons play double role. They keep the end of the feet in winter as hotter as possible while at the same time they hid a razor blade knife in it. When in close combat with Bear hands they would kick the enemy wherever they could, especially to feet or calf's or thighs and they would distract him even momentarily making him vulnerable to lethal counterattack.
via Donar W. In costume terms, some things will have to change if we want the evzones to be more like the fighters of 1821, the Macedonian (northern Greek) fighters, etc. Basically the uniforms used now are the costumes carried by the Evzone battalions of the regular army from the mid-19th century to the BEP, that is, they looked like the Greek costumes but too varied to meet the daily needs of the army. Now there is no such need, the Guard is to pay tribute and for foreigners to see and learn Greek History.
1.The official kilt of the soldiers is very short, normally it is below the knee or at least on the knee like that of the officers,especially when the soldier is over 1.90 it is a ridiculous sight. The sleeves of the fermeli in the official uniform must be worn by the soldiers, as in the past
3. The summer doulamas is a very poor outfit and causes laughter to all strangers . It should be replaced immediately perhaps with a fustanella of no white color and a light collar on the shirt, as it is now bursting from the heat. Also in the summer you could use the breeches as guards carrying and a gun and a Cretan knife. 4. The winter doulamas of the Macedonian (northern Greek) fighter should be longer with the addition of a fustanella from the inside, as the Macedonian (northern Greek) fighters really wore it.
5. In the official the officers must have a long belt or a silah to remind of the chieftains of 1821
I think that you don't know Greek. Otherwise you should have heard in the lab where they construct their uniforms and shoes by hand the chief master says that they are always on the hunt for information about traditional costumes made back in the Era of Revolution and even earlier times. They have managed to see many private collections and have replicated all these uniforms making different patterns on fermeli's especially. As for the length of their Fustanella which IS NOT A skirt that would made all the uniform even more heavier and their moves even more difficult to execute. All of their gear weighs more than 25 kilograms. The two parts of Fustanella would add exponentially much more weight as longer as they would get cause on the top it's narrow to about half an inch or a little bigger than a centimeter while on the bottom it's already about 8 to 10 centimeters wide or about 4 inches. Another 10 to 15 cms in length and they would went up to more than 15 cms or about 6 inches wide. I can't imagine how they would look like. Apart of the fact that some types of material should change especially on the summer uniform and they should use more linen there really other things to improve their uniforms. Don't forget on the winter they wear while they are on guard a very thick coat made out of leather of a cow. Which is absolutely adequate ly warm.
this takes goose stepping to a new level
Skirty clowns are too funny...
Bunlarla çarpışsak ben gülmekten ateş edemem mq 😂😂😂
Any where that explains all of this custom?
this video here
ruclips.net/video/g9HsnljEXWY/видео.html
@@ninadiamant8937 neat
FYI they're called Evzoni. It means Slim Waste.
ANTRES 1OO/`100 GANANNE kai servoyn,,,- antres
Ponçik asker
Hahhahha.
ASKER Mİ ? ABARTMIŞSIN DOSTUM. PONÇİK PALYAÇO DAHA UYGUN :))
Смешнее только смена караула Индия-Пакистан
j.sunsur.. are turkish, you know what hapend to turks aty 1821.we can repeat it if you like ,when greek see turks ,the turks start running
mr papapapapavavavsisilili 1821 ? 1821 ? but 2020 now, if you want to repeat 1821, just send fustenalle boys first.
@@j.sansur730 you're such a twat
@@ritapita1126 helloo are you a another proud 1821 boy ? maybe retired fustenalle boy ?
@Sal 040 Yeah yeah. Keep believing what you are told. Fustanella basically comes from the chiton worn by ancient Greeks and Romans. Also a statue was discovered in attica depicting a stonecutter by the name of archedemus wearing a fustanella like garment . It's also believed bu scholars that the Roman toga may have influenced the fustanella. Now go with your Turkish bf
@@j.sansur730 Yeah good luck with that
😍😍
Wouldn't it make more sense for the Greek Presidential Unit to dress like Hoplites? What's more Greek than a Hoplite?
Ah yes, only knowing greek history from Hollywood
@@user-sz9dj1pl9o as a matter of fact I've read many books on Greek History and Greek Warfare. So you're saying that all the surviving statues and vases depicting Hoplites in Hoplite equipment have it wrong? They all got their inspiration from Hollywood? Are you also saying that all Greek Living History Groups with members dressing in Hoplite Armour to educate the piublic also have it wrong?
The evzones are meant to represent modern Greece since the days of the revolution.
Isn’t that uniform Albanian in origin though?
Agressor Nation nope it’s not
iSSUE THAT BIG
😂😂😂
Σε πατάνε εύκολα κάτω
Seriously, guys, bell bottom sleeves, lace fabric, skirts, pom pom shoes..... do not go with the spirit of soldiers.
This aren't normal soldiers my dude they are just for show similar to he English guard .
@@thegreatsalamandros5909 I get it that these are almost ceremonial guards; but they are still related to the military even in spirit, right? What's with those girly things? Where did they come from? Did Alexander the Great use to wear those? If so I'd cut them some slack.
sfbluestar
The ancient greeks wear "skirts" to and you know the pom pom was a place to hide knifes the years of revolution. And tsarouhi has also pom pom because in the mountains is very cold and the fingers of the foot freeze. The folds of the skirt are also symbolic. There is 400 fols like the years of ottoman occupation. This uniform is honour for those men because is the uniform of another era. Maybe you belong to a new nation and is hard to understand.
armenia hot like kim kardashian, comen greko brothers help armenia
Shut up idiot
@@TheKit187 are you going to help kim kardashians, ?? go to front line, and fight.
@@j.sansur730 haha wtf stop deleting my comments... as I said the only human here that needs help is you to find some humour and to stop have nightmares with evzones hahaha like the old days Shaitan Asker🇬🇷 you know 🤭🤭
@@TheKit187 hush now my dog
@@sinankurtulus4844 Ohh another idiot ....your dog here is the other guy Sansur ... let’s go with him to make some love like original turkeys and then eat some baklava 😂😂
At least we learned that Greek soldiers don't have cellulite problems sjsjsjsjs
And they have big testicles all for you hehehe Still better than the toy soldiers Kemal Ataturk came up with... This is a traditional costume. When you don't have history you don't speak
@@Thanos_Kyriakopoulos why did you get offended by this joke? Are you body positivist? 🤣
You still remain Islamist Turk. Greeks are glorious Europeans, Turks are Islamist Asians. Watch out for China, mate! If Chinese find you, they will send you into re-educational camps. Inshala Allah Akbar! Kaboom! 😇
@@Chaos-Nyx-Erebus ehehehehe nice one... But you know right, China is a potential danger for all of us.
This what Army guard soldiers should be dressed like. No short skirts, tights and pom poms!
ruclips.net/video/bgVY4Hzhot0/видео.html
Eto vam NE Nemezkii soldat ...daze NE Pryskii shag....a
Zirkovoe predstavlenie.....daaa....yz...🤔
When you’re neither Turkish or Greek lol .
We laugh about it
Why? Greek presidential guard wears the Albanian outfit (instead of Greek) to honour the Arvanites. Arvanites are an Albanian tribe that lives in Greece since the 13th century, they kicked Ottoman asses outta Greece and they destroyed your monuments. You shouldn't be laughing at them.
@@victoriakallimorou5909 You lived in Ottoman lands for centuries and betrayed them. Also, your ancestors can swim very well. Do you know?
But you will cry when they will start chasing and charging after you
@@victoriakallimorou5909 Arvanites were not an Albanian tribe. Stop making such ridiculous comments
@@sevvalyalcin512 Swimming?? What ARE you on about?? Are you on the right video??
👗🇬🇷👗🇬🇷🤣🤣🤣
men behind presedential guards is ME, try to catch one and ......
Heyy greko ZERO, lets fight, i got my play station ready, show you who is real warrior
@Mom Sheriff grekosus assholesus.
You are only for baklava idiot ... you have comments in every video with evzones stop this and get a life ashole....Ooo now I see your face ok😂😂 So the real ZERO here is you, all your life is to see videos with evzones and tell us about your hilarious country... we don’t give a fuck for your country and your allah 🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻
Ο
Pou na pa's me auti ti skatoratsa vromotourke?
כל כך מגוחכים
Δεν αφήσαμε κανέναν σας στη Θεσσαλονίκη μετά το 1945.
Tis mama sou to tripidi.
THE CLOWNS
These clowns as you call them, can kick ass. I am sorry for you but your tottaly ignorant of history..
@@s.p.4965 You are totally ignorant. I know your history. I know 350 year you were the slave of my nation. And this clowns clothing for mountain bandit renegade karaiskakis and friend. DONT WORRY I KNOW
@@sinankurtulus4844 Run dogs, run run.... Back to the mainland. And now what I see is that your only visual contact with our islands and Aegean sea is only by binoculars🔭🔭 🦃. Don't be jealous
@@s.p.4965 Ha ha ha we not need it. We have got many many touristic beach. You sleep and see konstantinopol in your Dreams. Ha ha ha but Just Dreams ha ha ha
Be careful of what you say, these “slaves” of your nation are probably your ancestors too!
😱efson😱🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
ruclips.net/video/Ko091guwJak/видео.html hahahahahah
Get your comments out of here ugly ass Turk see you everywhere
@@chrisaspiliopoulou5382 my son I will always love you, I am your father don`t you remember me ??
J. Sansur get help mister
@@chrisaspiliopoulou5382 we made mistake yes yes I admit that, we should never leave , families apart,
I don`t even know how many sons and daughter I have there
J. Sansur are you fr?
You do know that their FUSTANI is Arvanite Albanian right? Shame on you people.
Yes, people who care enough know that, but the Greeks kinda adobted it around 1600 when the Arvanites migrated in the Peloponnese and Attica areas. We've been wearing it alongside the Arvanites for hundreds of years, thus it kinda lost the Albanian labeling, it became both Albanian and Greek after that if you know what I'm saying; besides most of our national heroes wore it, as most of them were poor farmers and the foustanela was the fashion norm amongst them at the time as it was easier to maintain and make, and the evzones are meant to resemble them.
Bitha Arvanitis and Albanias are not the same Arvanitis it means they are coming Arvano place in Epirus Albanian it derived from latin Alpanun it means the white (mountains in thise case) same like Alpino
@@sakisathan645 punk. And dont eat out BITHAS. Our Bitha made GRAECIA/"GREECE" FREE. Comes here illiterate 😒, The Graveyards where my family was buried is older than your Anatolian language and Whole of your Ancestors. I have Tales and songs 🎵 thay are older then EUROPA Itself.
@@kenikriezispirasspatas8982 Arvanited are not Albanians. PERIOD. Do some research man...
@Sal T if it wasn't for us SIPHNIANS Arberore to win the wars Greece would be Turkay today.
The Transvestites soldiers of Greece.
Shows how dim-witted and uneducated you are. Nice try
Italian gay
Your transgender brain!
hahahahahaha yessss they are
@@j.sansur730 is this the only way you can respond seems like you have been copy pasting your comment to any other that agrees with your childish uncultured brain
Customs are not grek
Yes they are
@KRISTIAN PEPAJ no its greek customs and you copied,like many at west copied greek things.
@KRISTIAN PEPAJ ...yeah and they were used also by Greeks therefore they are Greek too
@KRISTIAN PEPAJ and what was my great great grandfather?
@KRISTIAN PEPAJ OF COURSE A GREEK REBEL
The stupid thing is that this costume is not Greek but Albanian. Such is the truth ... Made in Albania 😉. Just like the fighters of the Greek revolution of 1821, including all Albanians / Arvanites. Greeks simply didn't exist at the time. A Creole nation would be founded by the Germans and other Phillhelene people afterwards. But then another culture was almost destroyed or massacred in order to create something artificial!
Stop smoking weed if can't handle it.
@@user-nq7pu3kk9n, You don't like the truth. We will never stop telling the truth. We will never allow a Creole nation to boast of our history. No way! We will follow you like a shadow!
@@arbenl6794 you used the right word, "like a shadow", always there to watch and always insignificant and useless.
I feel sorry for albanian people to be honest.. the communist brainwashing and years of poverty have led to undeveloped brain cells and you are a good example
@@locoloco3387,
I did not grow up in poverty or communism! But in Western Europe 😉. If I had grown up in communism, I would have followed your theses. The Greeks unfortunately have a problem with the truth and heritage of the Albanians. Instead of being open and honest with it! What was in antiquity remains to be seen! But the Moderen is largely based on Albanian, which is based on the facts that you also know. But don't want to accept
Greek under Turk will perform better
Are you under Turk and your experience speaks for itself?
Let's see then:
Gdp per capita:
Greece: 23,000
Turkey: 7,000
Average salary:
Greece: 1300€
Turkey: 300€
Hdi:
Greece: 0,890
Turkey: 0,820