The 200 victims were executed as a reprisal for the death of a German general killed by resistance forces near Molaoi.
The monument features an abstract, hollowed-out shape that evokes the imagery of loss and the voids left by the executed men.
The site was historically part of a military installation before being repurposed into a public memorial.
Many of the victims were political prisoners previously held in the Haidari concentration camp.
The site is often referred to by locals as 'The Shooting Range' (Skopeftirio).
Napoleon Soukatzidis, a prominent labor activist, is the most famous figure among the 200 executed, famously refusing to save his own life by replacing another prisoner.
The Altar of Freedom, known locally as the Kaisariani Shooting Range, serves as a solemn memorial dedicated to the 200 Greek resistance fighters executed by Nazi forces on May 1, 1944. It is located at the site of the former Nazi execution grounds within the foothills of Mount Hymettus. The site features a monument designed by the sculptor Memos Makris, reflecting the site's historical gravity as a center for the Greek Resistance during the Axis occupation. It remains a poignant symbol of anti-fascist struggle and national sacrifice in Greece. The area is maintained as a memorial park, preserving the historical integrity of the execution site.
The main sculptural monument, framed by the backdrop of the rugged Mount Hymettus hillside.
Bring water as there are limited facilities directly at the site.
Allocate time to walk through the surrounding park area to fully grasp the scale of the memorial grounds.
Check local event calendars as the site is often used for commemorative ceremonies on May 1st.
Do not treat the memorial as a recreational park for jogging or loud gatherings, as it is a sensitive historical site.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; this is a place of mourning and commemoration.
