Architecture: The Hellenic Parliament Building

The building of the Hellenic Parliament, began in 1836 as the palace of King Othonas, and finished in 1843. The architect Friedrich von Gaertner undertook the construction, and followed the Hellenic classical architecture lines, in order to better fit within all the ancient remnants of Athens.

In 1863, it housed King George I, and it was inhabited as a palace by his successors, until 1922. From 1922 to 1927, it hosted a lot of government services as well as the Hellenic Red Cross, among other associations.

In 1927, it became an annex of the Hellenic National-Historical museum, until 1941. Meanwhile, in 1929 the Government of El. Venizelos, decided that this historical building would host the Hellenic Parliament and the Senate, which happened on July 1, 1935.

The relief frieze, on the top of the building, narrates in seven episodes the passages from Peace, War, Occupation, Resistance and again Peace and Reconciliation.

A small video can be seen here;