Athanasios Diakos (1788-1821)
Athanasios Nikolaos Massavetas also known as Athanasios Diakos was an independence and militia fighter who fought and gave his life to live in a free Greece.
His last battle was at the Alamana bridge a position near Thermopylae where Leonidas and his three hudred Spartan hoplites died more than two thousand years before.
His last battle was at the Alamana bridge a position near Thermopylae where Leonidas and his three hudred Spartan hoplites died more than two thousand years before.
After the Ottoman Turks attacked the Greeks who were heavily out numbered, some of the Greek positions were routed others retreated from their posts when their leader was killed.
Despite pleas from other commanders to retreat to safety, Athanasios Diakos decided to stay with his 48 kleftis (thieves as they were known in those days), they held the Alamana bridge for acouple of hours before being overwhelmed by greater numbers.
Athanasios Diakos was heavily wounded, the Turks took him to thier leader Vryonis who said to Diakos if you convert from christianity to islam I will spare your life and make you a commander in my army.
Athanasios Diakos replied
" I was born Greek and I want to die Greek"
The next day Vryonis had Diakos impaled and roasted alive.
After being captured Diakos was reported to have said,
"Look at the time Charon chose to take me, now that the branches are flowering, and the earth sends forth grass".
