Page 403 - Beholding Liberty!

HALL OF THE ADJUTANTS
ΙΙΙ.2.6
Konrad Lange (1809-1856)
Medallion of Theodoros Kolokotronis and Nikitaras, 1836
obverse: Portraits of Theodoros Kolokotronis and Nikitaras
reverse: Greek warrior on horse defeats a Turk
signed: Κ. ΛΑΓΓΕ (front side)
inscribed: ΘΕΟΔΩΡ ΚΟΛΟΚΟΤΡΟΝΗΣ ΑΡΧΙΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΣ Κ. ΝΙΚΗΤΑΣ ΣΤΑΜΑΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ [sic] ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΣ (front side) ΚΑΤΑΠΑΤΗΣΕΙ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΨΥΧΗ ΜΟΥ ΔΥΝΑΤΗ (top) • ΝΕΜΕΑ ΑΥΓΟΥΣ. / 1822 (low) (back side)
bifacial bronze medallion, diameter 4.4 cm Hellenic Parliament Art Collection, inv. n. 883
ONE OF THE SERIES OF 12 BRONZE MEDALS with elaborate figures and events of the Greek War of Independence published by Kon- rad Lange in 1836. The Bavarian engraver Lange came to Greece during Otto’s reign, in 1834, and worked at the Athens Mint until 1840.
On the recto, the portraits of – the supreme com- mander, according to the inscription – Theodoros Kolokotronis and the general Nikitas Stamatopou- los are carved in fine relief, in profile.
The coexistence of the two is obviously account- ed for by the relationship (uncle-nephew) between Kolokotronis and Nikitas Stamatelopoulos (1781- 1849), known as Nikitaras, called “Turkophagus”, a relationship that evolved into one of support and trust, especially after the death of Nikitas’ father,
in 1816, when he followed Theodoros to the Ioni- an Islands. In turn, Nikitaras aided Kolokotronis in many military operations during the Struggle.
The verso shows a Greek warrior stepping on his fallen enemy and marking him with a knife held in his right hand; in his left he holds the reins of his horse. This is essentially a variation on the theme of the Giaour defeating Hassan [cf. cat. nos. III.8.B.2-5].
The inscription ‘ΚΑΤΑΠΑΤΗΣΕΙ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΨΥΧΗ ΜΟΥ ΔΥΝΑΤΗ’ (march on my soul, be strong) comes from the Book of Judges (5:21); marked at the bottom, the place and time (Nemea, August 1822) points to the triumph against Dramalis at Derve- nakia, in which both Kolokotronis and Nikitaras played leading roles.
HEROON OF THE STUGGLE The Heroes of the sword 403