Melbourne-based Dr Spiridoula Demetriou has dedicated years to studying the legacy of the Greek city of Missolonghi.
She is among the curators of a major exhibition at Athens' Benaki Museum.
The exhibition, “Messolonghi 1826 – 200 Years Since the Exodus,” explores both the historical reality and the symbolic power of the event.
The final siege, she explains, lasted for a year, leaving the town isolated and starving.
Despite this, defenders, both Greek and foreign, held out.
As conditions worsened in early 1826, a collective decision was made to attempt a breakout and thousands lost their lives in the process.
One of its central aims is to trace how European artistic responses evolved from romanticised depictions of ancient Greece to politically charged images supporting the Greek struggle.
Dr Demetriou also highlights the importance of such exhibitions for the diaspora.
While events like the Revolution of 1821 are widely commemorated, she notes that Missolonghi has often received less attention, though this is beginning to change.
Ultimately, for Dr Dimitriou, Missolonghi is not just a chapter in history but a living cultural memory.
“We treat it culturally… It’s like our Anzac Day. We commemorate it regardless of the anniversary.”
