Object Alone

Obj. ID: 45663  Anne Frank Memorial Monument in Larissa, Greece, 1999

© Samuel D. Gruber, Photographer: Gruber, Samuel D., 2022

Who is Commemorated?

Anne Frank 

Description

The marble monument is located near a corner of a public park, in the center of a built-up urban neighborhood. It is set beneath a tall pine tree and rests on a rectangular concrete base set into the unpaved ground, The monument is marble left rough as quarried on the rear and edges, and smoothed and polished on the front, where there is a low relief carving of an olive branch, an open book, and strands of barbed wire, and a short, inscribed passage from Anne Frank’s diary.

Metal street signs identify the space as Plateia Annas Frank (Anne Frank Square). A fountain is located on the corner of the square not far from the monument. Unfortunately, a large brightly-colored kiosk and movable garbage bins are also located in close proximity to the monument.

Inscription

...Παό ολα αυτά εζακολουδω

να πιστεύω πως οι ανδρωποι

δεν ειναι κακοι...

ΑΝΝΑ ΦΡΑΝΚ

 1929-1945

Translation: ...I'm listening to all this to believe that people are not bad... / [Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.]

Commissioned by

Municipality of Larissa

Documenter
Samuel D. Gruber | May 21, 2022
Author of description
Samuel D. Gruber | 2022
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconsdivuction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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14 image(s)

Name / Title
Anne Frank Memorial Monument in Larissa | Unknown
Monument Setting
Public park
{"9":"Any memorial erected or installed in a present-day public park, including Jewish cemeteries or other sites now operated as public space."}
Object Detail
Completion Date
1999
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Location
Greece | Thessaly Region | Larissa (Λάρισα)
| Anne Frank Square (ΠΛΑΤΕΙΑ ΑΝΝΑΣ ΦΡΑΝΚ) at Erythrou Stavrou Street)
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Iconographical Subject
Textual Content
Languages of inscription
Material / Technique
marble
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
0
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks
History

The Municipality of Larissa dedicated a square near the general hospital in memory of the Holocaust and named “Anne Frank Square”. In cooperation with the Secretariat of the Region of Thessaly, a commemorative marker sculpted by Kostas Ntais was installed in memory of Anne Frank and by association, the 1.500.000 children killed in the Holocaust (the murdered children were mentioned at the dedication but not on the monument itself). Across one corner of the square is situated an impressive house that was appropriated as the home of the Nazi commander of the town during the German occupation.

The unveiling of the column took place on October 31, 1999, with the Ambassadors of Israel and the Netherlands present, together with the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities of Greece (KIS), local authorities, and many others. Before the dedication, there was an event at Larissa’s Municipal Conservatory where the main speaker was local author Vaggelis Kolonas, who was the instigator of naming the square, In the foyer of the Conservatory, a photo exhibition about Anne Frank was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Netherlands.

Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources

“Anne Frank Monument,” Jewish Community of Larissa website, https://www.jcl.gr/en/services/anne-frank-square/ (accessed November 27, 2022)
Type
The following information on this monument will be completed: