1st Olympiad of Children's Painting

By The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

By Children and Youth of Greece

Inspired by the 1st modern revival of the Olympic Games in 1859 in Athens, a "Children's Art Gallery of Greece" unique art collection created by children, under
the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic.

Olive Branch (2018) by Marizeta KlabanouThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

The Revival of the Modern Olympic Games

The conception and organization of the first modern Olympic Games was a global Greek initiative. This great achievement is vividly portrayed in the artworks created by the young generation of Greece, the children and youth, who proudly present this unique art collection!   The First Contemporary Olympics, “Olympia” as they were known, were organized by the Greeks in Athens in 1859,

decades before the well-known international Olympic Games of 1896. In the second half of the 19th century a spark of inspiration was needed to activate the developmental path of the newly established Greek state. This spark was given by Evangelos Zappas, who envisioned, organized and institutionalized the first modern Olympic Games in modern Greece. The first Olympia in the city of Pallada in 1859 formed the bridge between the ancient and the modern games, emphasizing the inextricable relationship of the modern Greeks with their glorious past. 

The Parthenon (2019) by Arampatzi MariaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

It all took place in Athens Greece. The epicentre of the Ancient Greek civilization with its symbol, the Temple of Athena, the Parthenon.
Maria Arampatzi's painting shows the grandeur of the temple.

Caryatides (2019) by Zafeiropoylos ManolisThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

The Erectheion Caryatids, in a shrine dedicated to an archaic king of Athens, represent priestesses of Artemis protecting the city.

The High Priestess of the Olympic Games, Dimitra Dittopoulou, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Dimitra Dittopoulou's dove flies free in the sky to carry the message to the world of the beginning of the Olympic Games.

Athlete with Medals, Alexandra Tegou, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The young artist Alexandra Tegou paints the Olympic winner carrying the three medals: gold, silver and bronze. The olive wreath is there to symbolize peace and triumph.

Olympia (2018) by Theodoros KaronisThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

"Olympia" of the 19th century

In their imaginative artworks, the children and youth of Greece portray the Olympic concept which was revived during the first Olympics that took place in Athens in 1859, recognized as the first comprehensive effort to organize the Olympic Games in the new era. The first modern Olympics were attended by 20,000 spectators, among members of the government, the military and municipal authorities of Athens and thousands of ordinary citizens. Ideals of rivalry, solidarity, peace, truce, participation, discipline, persistence, effort, friendship, equality, respect, brotherhood, struggle, intercultural relations, coexistence.

Olympic Flame, Georgiou Gkeorgkieva Sofia, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The Olympic Flame stood as a symbol of unity and peace. The ceremony of the flame was a universal event with participation from around the world.

The Lighting of the Olympic Flame (2018) by Panagiota KonstantinopoulouThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Panayiota Konstantinopoulou painted the High Priestess of the Olympic Games lighting the sacred flame in the stadium, to signify the opening of the ceremony.

Olympic Winner, Maria Romanaki, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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As the winning champion of the Olympics, Maria Romanaki's athlete is crowned with the Kotinos, the olive wreath presented to the triumphant athletes of the games, as the ultimate honour.

Olympic Games (2018) by Niovi Sofia SofouThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

The Zappeion Megaron

With its colourful depictions by young artists of the first building that was built worldwide to serve Olympic needs, the Zappeion Megaron. Following the austerity of the Athenian neoclassical school, the building is one of the purest neoclassical samples, perfectly adapted to the Greek light. With the neoclassical glamor that distinguishes it, the Zappeion Megaron was inaugurated on 20 October 1888.

The Olympic High Priestess, Despoina Kehagia, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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As presented by Despoina Kehagia, he Zappeion Megaron, the first building in the world which was constructed to host the revival of the Olympic games, forms the central stage of all celebrations.

The Dove of Peace, Thania Gitsa, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The white dove painted by Thania Gitsa is nourished by the priestess, as a symbol of peace and war cessation for the duration of the games.

Girls Dancing around the Sun (2018) by Ellie Despoina VeloudouThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Ancient and Modern Greece

Young artists are taught by the first "Olympia" in 1859, which began the familiarization of a whole generation of Greeks with the classic concept of Olympism, so that the institution of the Olympic Games was imprinted on the conscience of the Greeks as interwoven with the glorious history of their ancestors. Children paint with creative exuberance and send out to the world with enthusiasm the message of collaboration and cooperation.  

Playing with the Olive Wreaths, Maria Kotsoni, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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During the Olympic festivities, children and youth rejoiced in the celebration of competing for excellence. Maria Kotsoni depicts the joy of making olive garlands for the winning athletes.

Sailing the Aegean (2018) by Eleni VoulgariThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

The Aegean portrayed in the painting of Eleni Voulgari was the background setting of all Olympic activities in ancient Greece. The buzzing archipelagos, united the participating states.

Girl with Olive Wreath, Illektra Zaharopoulou, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Joy and celebration were predominant in the Olympia, as vividly presented by Ilektra Zaharopoulou's painting.

Olive Wreath (2018) by Hara BaziotiThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

As Hara Bazioti demonstrates in her depiction of Kotinos, Olympia, wore the color of the classic Olympic Games and formed the link that united antiquity with modern Greece.

We all are one (2019) by Petropoulou ChristinaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

All races ceased war to participate in the Olympic Games, as a demonstration of good will. No hostilities were allowed during the whole period of the games and every state took part peacefully.

Affection (2019) by Leonti Ioylia GerasimoylaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

The protection of the Olympic Flame by Unity and Estia was sacred in ancient times.

The High Priestess, Nancy Tsantzalou, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The young artist Nancy Tzantzalou portrays the Priestess of Olympia, crowned with the Olympic garland of gold olive leaves.

The Music of Peace (2018) by Eleftheria ParaschouThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Ode to Olympia

Children and youth are inspired by the first modern revival of the ancient Olympic Games in Athens in 1859 echoing  the odes of Pindar:

“Gold, like a gleaming fire

by night, outshines all pride of wealth beside.

But, my heart, would you chant the glory of games,

look never beyond the sun

by day for any star shining brighter through the deserted air,

nor any contest than Olympia greater to sing”.

 

The Parthenon, Karavidas Ioannis Gerasimos, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The Parthenon, Smerou Chrysa Eleni, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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The Parthenon (2019) by Sofianou ViviThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Sailing Hellas, Karavidas Ioannis Gerasimos, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Sea Landscape flowing out of a Bottle, Manolis Gigourtakis, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Shelter, Papavasileiou Eirini, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Mermaid in the World, Maria Makraki, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Waiting for Sunrise, Kourti Maria, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Doves of Peace, Vaden Konstantinos, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Olympic Ceremony (2019) by Trompouki ElpidaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Olympic Flame, Kalogeri Eleni, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Marathon, Fotopoulos Nektarios, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Olympic World, Mpointa Katerina, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Human Rights (2017) by Paraskevi SiabaniThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Peace, Karavasiloglou Antonis, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Children Hugging Earth, Antonia Vakondiou, 2018, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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All as one (2019) by Xontou Kyveli-IoannaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

All as one, Seitis Ioannis, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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All for this world, Tasopoulos Petros, 2019, From the collection of: The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
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Hand in Hand with Love (2019) by Pinelis NikolaosThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Races (2019) by Spatharou MariaThe Children’s Art Gallery of Greece

Credits: Story

The Children’s Art Gallery of Greece
Rhodes, Greece

Curator: Aikaterina Lengou

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions (listed below) who have supplied the content.
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