Page 149 - Beholding Liberty!
P. 149
HALL OF THE TROPHIES
Nike flying over sunken ships
The victories of the Greeks at sea continue and consolidate the naval struggle: Chios, Methone and Kos are inscribed on the shield of the Nike. Amongst those victories, the naval battle of August 29, 1824, the legendary naval battle of Gerontas (or of Kos),against the numerically superior Turkish-Egyptian fleet, under the command of Pasha Hosref and Pasha Ibrahim, which caused for one more time the admiration of the Greeks by the Euro- peans. The major role in this naval battle was played by the fireships.
The symbolic figure of Nike (Victory) faces at the front. The ships behind her are connected to the naval battles, the names of which appear on her shield. The nudity of the Nike has a heroic character.
SCENES AND FIGURES OF FREEDOM The Frieze of the Revolution 149
