“Famous men have the whole earth as their memorial.”
Thucydides 2.43.3
Coutalianos died as a result of gagrene in one of the rooms of the Balukli Hospital in Istanbul (August 4, 1916). He was buried with honors in the cemetery behind the particular hospital. A few years later, in a modest ceremony, his bones were exhumed, which were brought to his native land, on the island of Coutalis, where they were buried in the forecourt of the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
The hospital of the Greek community of Istanbul “Baloukli” in a photo of 1901. The legendary Greek wrestler Coutalianos breathed his last in this hospital.
The hospital “Baloukli” in an other old photo. At the back of this hospital, is the old cemetery of the members of the Greek community, where Coutalianos was buried after his death.
Balukli hospital in flames. The hospital building was severely damaged in an arson fire on August 4, 2022. It was reported that mainly offices were burned and the hospital’s records were destroyed. We are not in a position to know exactly what this archive hid, but we are sure that the Turkish state has many reasons for erasing the traces of the Greeks who lived there.
Febr. 16, 1909The above article describes how the veteran athlete, who has now retired to his island and is engaged in the cultivation of some fields that he had purchased both in his birthplace of Coutali and on the island opposite Afisia (today Avsa), spends his daily life. The journalist also mentions that his great athletic legacy has been inherited by his children who are pursuing careers as great athletes, continuing their father’s tradition.March 7, 1917Through the above publication, it is announced that Panagis Coutalianos died approximately three months ago.Ruins of the church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (on the left) and the school (on the right) of island Coutali (today: Ekinlik ada). In the courtyard of this old church, the bones of the legendary wrestler were transferred and buried.
View of the interior of the church as it is today.
Photo taken from another angle.
The architectural plan of the Coutali school.
View of Coutalis in an old photo. It was the time when this island was inhabited exclusively by members of the Greek community.June 9, 1914 The article mentions that Serbian and Turkish wrestlers participate in some matches, from which Greeks are absent. The columnist searches for the successors of Coutalianos, but does not find them…Αug. 22, 1975Announcement of the death of the famous wrestler Jim Londos. The journalist ranks him as the second most important athletic figure that Greece has produced, after Coutalianos.Μarch 4, 1913
The above source cites a list of Greeks murdered by the Turks. Turkish soldiers aboard the ship “Israeliye” landed and murdered Greek civilians in the village of Economion. Among the list of these innocent victims is someone named Panagis Coutalianos. We point this out as information, but it is probably a synonym, because the most prevalent versions state that the athlete died in 1916.
The philosopher Plato said that “It is impossible to avoid your destiny”. The adventurous life of Coutalianos was ultimately destined to end in a rather inglorious way. But our site was created to restore the historical balance. In the above song performed by the famous Greek singer V. Papakonstantinou, the inevitability of fate is described. The lyrics are written by the Greek poet N. Kavadias.
