The Evzones at the Acropolis


Every Sunday just before sunset, the Evzones, make their way up the sacred hill of the Acropolis to take down the Greek flag flying proud high above the city. The uniforms have special historical symbolism. The skirts (foustanella) have 400 pleats, which recall the harsh 400 year Ottoman occupation while the shoes (tsarouchia) have 60 nails in their soles that make a sound each time they step. This sound is meant to be heard by their Greek ancestors, which tells them: "We are alive, and more importantly, we are free!"