Currently in its raw clay stage. This Phylax will be glazed bright red to echo the sculpture that are to be found in Palaio Faliro in an Athens suburb. The internationally known Greek artist Kostia Georgiou created this as a non-religious work with the title translated from Ancient Greek to mean guard, watcher or protector. It was meant to represent a timeless, mythical guard watching over a seaside suburb symbolising guardianship and hope to modern Athenians struggling with political unrest and economic uncertainty. This is certainly how my Phylax is portrayed.
Ultra right groups and religious conservatives claimed it symbolised Satan or a fallen Angel. It was installed in the Athens Riviera in Palaio Faliro in December 2017.
What else does Phylax mean?
The word Phylax also refers to an Ancient Greek dramatic form which blends mythological parody with comedy. An officer in the temples of the Golden Dawn was also called a Phylax.
In modern days Tech & Security Companies are attracted to the name and it has been used to name a blockchain security company, an European AI platform and a digital tool developed with the Alzheimers Society to enable safe online shopping.
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