Frank Abney-Hastings Memorial

Frank Abney-Hastings (1794-1828) was one of the most influential of all the philhellenes who fought in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). A naval tactician he pioneered military techniques and technology to great effect against contingents of the Ottoman fleet and supply chain. Ultimately giving his life fighting for the freedom of the Greek people, he was mortally wounded while leading an attack on a fortification on the island of Anatolikon (modern day Etoliko) expiring several days later on June the 1st 1828.

Hastings was mourned greatly and given a national funeral. He was interred at the site of the old arsenal on the island of Poros. A site that from 1830 became the home of the Hellenic Navy and is currently a naval training base. A memorial to Hastings has been erected at this site in his memory.

Hastings memorial was commissioned in 1928 by the then minister of the Hellenic Navy Panagiotou Merlopoulou and commemorates the centenary of Hastings death. The memorial is is referred to on a plaque in the Anglican Church of St Pauls Athens, where Hastings heart is immured. The centenary was marked by a service which was attended by Sir Percy Loraine British Ambassador to Greece and other dignitaries.

The memorial carries two plaques which are illustrated below along with a translation of the inscriptions.

“ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE
THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH
OF THE PHILHELLENE
FRANK ABNEY HASTINGS
WHO FOUGHT IN THE HELLENIC NAVY
FOR THE REBIRTH OF GREECE
DONATED IN GRATITUDE BY
THE MINISTER OF THE GREEK NAVY
PANAGIOTOU MERLOPOULOU
JUNE 1928”

“IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF
FRANK ABNEY HASTINGS
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR
THE CAUSE OF GREECE
THIS SITE WAS VISITED IN REMEMBRANCE
ON THE CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH
BY SIR PERCY LORAIN AMBASSADOR TO GREECE
REPRASENTATIVE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND
AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH NAVY”

What a testament to the enduring legacy of Hastings distinguished role in the Greek revolution.

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Frank Abney-Hastings Heart and the Anglican Church of Saint Pauls Athens

Frank Abney-Hastings heart is immured in the Anglican Church of Saint Pauls in Athens, Greece. Consecrated in 1843 the church has many monuments of historic interest.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

It is my understanding that Hastings heart was in the possession of his great friend George Finlay, philhellene and historian, who served with Hastings aboard the Karteria. On the death of Finlay’s widow, Arthur Hill church warden and treasurer from 1885 to 1903, found the heart in a box at her house. He subsequently had it immured in the west wall of the church, the location of which is marked by a plaque with inscription.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

“HERE LIES DEPOSITED THE
HEART OF CAPTAIN FRANK
ABNEY HASTINGS, YOUNGER
SON OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR CHARLES HASTINGS
BART: WHO, HAVING BEEN
MORTALLY WOUNDED IN AN
ATTACK ON ANATOLIKON
DIED IN ZANTE, ON THE 20TH (OS) 
DAY OF MAY 1828, AGED
34 YEARS. HE WAS BURRIED IN
POROS, WHERE AN OBELISK
IS ERECTED IN THE OLD
ARSENAL TO HIS MEMORY.”

As indicated on the inscription the date of death is in the Old Style or Julian calendar.The 20th of May 1828 converts to the 1st of June 1828 as we would expect. Though it seems there may have been some confusion around the date for the plaque as it appears to have been amended by a stonemason at some point in time.

Among the many other interesting monuments in the church are the stained glass windows in the north and south transepts. Dedicated to Sir Richard Church (1784-1873), commander of the Greek military forces in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence, and statesman thereafter.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

St Paul’s is located on Philellinon Street about 250 meters south of Syntagma Square and makes a great visit when open during one of the services that are regularly held there. Details of current services can be found on the church gate.

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References
J.W. Day, et al. (1998) “The Anglican Church of Saint Paul’s Athens, A Short History”
Unknown, (1938) “Church Quarterly Review, Volumes 125-126”

The church booklet listed above contains a rich history and can be purchased from the church.

Photographs by Mark Notaras, subject to Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence.

Herculaneum

Located on the coast of the Bay of Naples in Italy, Herculaneum is a lesser known Roman town which was destroyed along with Pompeii in the infamous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.

As Herculaneum was less affected by falling debris from the initial stage of the eruption, it is better preserved than the more popular site of Pompeii. Many of the upper levels of the buildings remain preserved. The photograph below shows an example of an ornate ceiling in the second style of painting which was prevalent in the 1st Century BC.

The photograph below shows stairs leading to the upper floor of a villa.

Even artefacts in wood have survived, having been carbonised in the intense heat of the eruption. The photograph below shows original wooden window frames preserved along with the iron bars of the window.

Below, a set of shelves for amphora located in the blacksmiths shop.

In the Villa of the Wooden Partition you can see the partition wall complete with sliding door and parts of a wooden bed frame remain in one of the bedrooms.

Other highlights include the Villa of Neptune and Amphitrite named after the fantastically colourful mosaics in the summer triclinium or dining room.

Herculaneum is also home to the grand Villa of the Papyri which belong to Lucius Calpurnius Caesonios, Julius Ceaser’s father in law and contained a vast library of scrolls which new techniques are enabling us to read. It also contained fine bronze statues now forming a significant collection in the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Though on a smaller scale to Pompeii, the richer town of Herculaneum carries advantages to the visitor in its superior state of preservation. Also being less well known it attracts far less visitors making for a more pleasant visit.

All photographs are taken by the author and can be used as part of the Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence.

A Trip to Pompeii

I finally made it to the renowned ancient Roman town of Pompeii!

Entering through the ancient city walls and walking on the original paving, past uniquely well preserved civic buildings, villas, restaurants etc; you feel as though you are walking among the very ancients who suffered such a terrible fate from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The highlights for me were the fantastic villas, such as the largest in Pompeii, named the House of the Faun after the bronze statue in the courtyard.

This villa was also the location of the famous mosaic of Alexander the Greats victory over the Persian king Darius, now displayed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

A visit to the Archaeological Museum is a must, it contains many treasures discovered in Pompeii and surrounding towns such as Herculaneum since excavations began in the 18th century.

Outside the city walls on the outskirts of Pompeii, the Villa of Mysteries maintains its fantastic frescos, its name is derived from the large fresco in the dining room depicting a mysterious wedding ritual.

These frescos remain in situ, but many more of the originals can also admired in the museum.

Pompeii is a unique time capsule, providing a window onto life in the ancient world. With much of the site still remaining to be excavated, just imagine what treasures have yet to be discovered.

All photographs are taken by the author and can be used as part of the Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence.

Paestum, Ancient Poseidonia

The ancient Greek city state of Poseidonia now takes its later Roman name of Paestum. Located in the Campania region of southern Italy its tributary roads along the coast afford fantastic views.

5th Century BC Temple of Hera in front of the earlier 6th Century temple also dedicated to the goddess

The archaeological site encompasses three Archaic Greek temples of the Doric order dating from the 6th Century BC. They are in a impressive condition with much of the pediments remaining.

6th Century BC Temple of Athena

In 273 AD the Romans renamed the city Paestum and there is much evidence of architecture from the Roman period, including villas with geometric mosaic floors and an early coliseum.

Many of the finds from the site are displayed in the galleries of the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum and include fascinating ancient tomb frescos.

Restaurant Ritrovo di Porta Marina away from the busy tourist area is recommended. They serve good food and their grounds encompass parts of the ancient city walls.

All photographs are taken by the author and can be used as part of the Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence