Aristotle University of Thessaloniki unveils 1922 refugee memorial

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) has unveiled a new memorial dedicated to the refugees of 1922. Located near the university observatory, the memorial is designed as a circular memorial garden where visitors can interact with the space rather than just observing it. At its center stands an olive tree, symbolizing memory, longevity, and rebirth.

The monument features twelve stone sectors representing various lost homelands, including Adrianople, Eastern Thrace, Cappadocia, Constantinople, Asia Minor, Pontus, Smyrna, and Trebizond, among others. The design also incorporates the sixteen-pointed star.

During the unveiling ceremony, titled ‘Honoring our roots, supporting our future’, AUTh Rector Kyriakos Anastasiadis described the project as a duty to history, society, and the future. He expressed the ambition to transform the surrounding area into a broader ‘memory park’ to highlight different historical aspects of Thessaloniki, particularly near the site of the old Jewish Cemetery. The event included a lecture by Professor Thanos Veremis on the integration and contribution of the 1922 refugees to Greek society.