Sharply-dressed Dromeas stands tall in Athens

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Dromeas glass sculpture in Athens

Dromeas (“Runner” in English) is a 12-meter-tall glass and iron sculpture created in 1994 by Athens artist Costas Varotsos

 

Sharp Dresser:  Athens may be one of the world’s safest cities, but you won’t want to run into a big Greek guy named Dromeas while you’re there — he would literally tear you to pieces.

Standing 12 meters tall (nearly 30 feet), Dromeas cuts a dashing figure at Megalis tou Genous Sholi square near the Hilton Athens Hotel on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.  Created by noted Athens sculptor Costas Varotsos in 1994, Dromeas originally stood at Omonia Square, but was moved when construction commenced on the underground metro station there. Concerns that shakes and vibrations from subway building activity could damage the sculpture prompted his relocation to a triangular public square close to the Canadian Embassy.

 

This is Athens photo of Dromeas sculpture in Athens

A photo of Dromeas and the Athens Hilton, shared on the Facebook community page This is Athens

 

Dromeas sculpture in Athens by artist Costas Varotsos

Dromeas is seen in a dramatic image that sculptor Costas Varotsos shared on @costasvarotsos, his official Instagram account

 

@imikov photo of Dromeas The Runner sculpture in Athens

This marvellous image of Dromeas was captured and shared on Instagram by photographer @imikov during the heavy snowfall that paralyzed Athens and many other parts of Greece on  January 24 2022

 

Lucas Kouloubis photo of Dromeas sculpture in Athens

Another amazing photo of Dromeas during the Elpis snowstorm, this time captured by photographer Lucas Kouloubis. The image was shared on @costasvarotsos, the official Instagram page for sculptor Costas Varotsos.

 

Associated Press photo of Dromeas sculpture in Athens

This Associated Press photo of Dromeas, shot after the Elpis snowstorm had subsided, was widely circulated on social media

 

 

 

Please turn to page 2 to view more photos of Dromeas.

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8 Comments

  1. The Runner, sculptured by Kostas Varotsos, was originally erected in Omonia Suare in 1988. In 1994 it was moved to the Square of the “Great School of the Nation”, opposite the Hilton Hotel because the central square of the city was being remodeled for the 2004 Olympics.

  2. Trudy Stephenson Willis

    May 7, 2016 at 1:19 pm

    Can’t imagine how I missed it… Maybe my trip was before it was built. Need to find my pix.

  3. Before googling Dromeas (and reading your blog) I usted exactly the same words you did ‘one of my favorites contemporary sculptures’.
    I stay at the Hilton Athens every year on my trips to Greece. Just love it there, I feel at home.

  4. Years ago that sculpture helped me remember the name of the square. It was glass and FILTHY. Looked like it needed a good cleaning with ammonia. Hence “Omonia Square.”

  5. Your photo of Dromeus is one of the best I’ve found. I wanted to get a large print of Dromeus but can’t find a source. Can you help?

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