The constitution Square

It is the central square of the city. At first it was called the square of the Platan, as there was a huge platan tree in the middle. Here the fighters would make speeches or talk about the problems of the Revolution.

When, what had remained of the heroic guard of Messolongi, arrived at Nauplion (1826), the government was unable to feed them. Then the Nation's Teacher G. Gennadios with his inspired speech under­neath the platan moved the hearts of his listeners, who offered everything they could.

Underneath the platan one could see during the years of the revolution «report writers» or «petition writers», that is, those that composed such documents, writing with

the piece of paper propped on their right knee.

When in 1843 D. Ypsilantis' remains we­re transferred to this square, the philologist Charalampos Pampoukis praised the deeds of the hero and addressed the pla­tan thus :

«We bestow upon thee, platan, our friend, these remains of a brave man. Thou, oh platan, witness to our national glory during the Revolution, neighbour and guardian god of our Parliament and Government, an orator's tribune and Pnyx of modern Greece. Oh, platan, thou has decayed and died thus, like the heroes of the War, but thou has not been annihilated, for, like the new offsprings of the Greek youth, new platans have grown around thee. Oh platan, thou has seen these flags and banners hoisted in the air, heralds of the triumphs of the de­ceased (D. Ypsilantis)... accept in the shade of thy children these remains of this brave man, to render them to the wise Greeks» .