On the top of Mount Zalongo in northwestern Greece stands an imposing monument commemorating the mass suicide of the women and children of Souli in 1803, also known as the Dance of Zalongo, a tragic yet heroic event in Greek history. After years of defiantly resisting Ottoman rule and refusing to surrender their autonomy, the Souliotes faced inevitable defeat by the Ottoman forces and fled the area on December 16, 1803. A group of Souliot mothers got trapped with their children and escaped to Mount Zalongo. Choosing liberty over enslavement and determined to avoid rape and slavery, the women danced and sang together while throwing their children and then themselves off the steep Zalongo cliff to their deaths. Over one hundred perished in this act of tragic defiance. First documented by Christoforos Perraivos in 1815 and soon resonating across Europe, this shocking incident of self-sacrifice for freedom precipitated the Greek War of Independence just years later. Educators in the district of Preveza came up with the idea of honoring the courageous women of Souli with a monument in 1950. After receiving the government’s approval, the schools fundraised to erect the memorial. In 1953, the Ministry of Education chose the design of artist George Zongolopoulos and architect Patroklos Karantinos, who oversaw its construction. For six years, workers manually transported building materials up the 700-meter summit, including over 4,300 whitish limestone blocks. The dedication ceremony occurred on June 10, 1961, with the participation of many citizens who contributed to the funding. The monument depicts six abstract female figures holding hands and is visible over 30km away. Despite the steep 410 stairs to the top, more than 30,000 people visit the monument annually. Read more...