Bust of Georgios Tertsetis

The ‘Diafotistis (‘Enlightener’) of the Nation’

Born in Zakynthos in 1800 to a prominent family, Georgios Tertsetis was a judge, and a writer and poet of the Heptanese School of literature (the Ionian School). He studied law and Latin-Italian literature in Italy, but when the Greek Revolution broke out, he joined the ‘Philiki Etairia’ (‘Society of Friends’) and took part in battles against the Ottoman oppression. In 1833, during the reign of King Otto, he was appointed to the five-member court in Nafplio, and participated in the 1834 trial of the two Commanders-in-Chief of the Greek Revolution, Theodoros Kolokotronis and Dimitrios Plapoutas. He has remained famous in history as the Enlightener of the Nation for his patriotism and the uncompromising position he took during the course of the trial when, together with the President of the Court, Anastasios Polyzoidis, he refused to sign the order for the execution of the two commanders. He died on 15th April 1874.

What are the characteristics of the sculpture?

The marble bust depicts Tertsetis wearing a shirt, vest, suit jacket, and bow tie. His hair and beard are thin. An inscription on the front of the base reads: GEORGIOS TERTSETIS 1800-1874. The artist’s signature is on the sculpture.

When was the work commissioned and installed?

The bust of Georgios Tertsetis, together with that of Anastasios Polyzoidis, are located at the entrance to the Nafplio Court House. The unveiling took place on 27th November 1977 during the celebration of the 155-year anniversary of the Fall of the Palamidi Fort, with the President of the Democracy, Konstantinos Tsatsos in attendance.