Archives, Biography, Maps, Ottoman, Uncategorized

1898. In the prisons of Rhodes.

Kostas Michos
August 21, 2023
8:28 pm

Coutalianos was arrested by the Ottoman authorities.

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

While Coutalianos is touring various places, war breaks out between Greece and Turkey. This war is known as the “Thessalian War” (1897-1898). The athlete passing through the island of Rhodes, which was then under Ottoman occupation, was arrested by the Turkish police. The reason for his arrest was completely pretentious and absurd. Searching his luggage, they saw that the athlete had wrapped his shoes with the sheet of an Italian newspaper on which was depicted a caricature of the Sultan of Turkey. This event was considered an insult by the Turkish authorities and Panagis was arrested and imprisoned for two whole years. The truth is that by arresting the strongest Greek athlete, the Turkish authorities wanted to damage the prestige of the Greeks during the war.

Palmyra, the wife of Coutalianos, while her husband is imprisoned in Rhodes, begs on the streets of Piraeus to survive. Poverty and hunger have exhausted the members of the athlete’s family and unfortunately, his youngest child, Giannis, cannot stand it and dies. This particular article is addressed to the citizens of Athens and Piraeus, asking the affluent to financially support the athlete’s family.

“…Τhe more you hurt me, the more you piss me off..”. A music dedicated to the indomitable instincts of Coutalianos, which should be an example for all of us.