George Seferis: The poet's funeral becomes an anti-junta protest

On September 22, 1971, thousands of people gathered in Athens to attend the funeral of Nobel laureate poet George Seferis. The procession, which moved from the Church of Sotira tou Kotaki in Plaka to the First Cemetery of Athens, transformed into a massive demonstration against the ruling military junta.

Despite orders from law enforcement to remain silent, mourners shouted slogans for democracy and freedom, defying the oppressive regime. Seferis had previously instructed his partner, Maro, to prevent the dictators from honoring him with state funds and official ceremonies.

Years prior, in 1969, Seferis had used international radio broadcasts to criticize the regime, describing it as a state of 'compulsory sleep' that threatened the spiritual values of the nation and warned of a looming precipice caused by oppression.