The 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade badge
One of the most sought-after Greek militaria items is the badge of the 3rd Mountain Brigade, instituted in late 1944 and awarded to all personnel of the Brigade after the battle of Rimini. Worn on the right breast pocket, it was meant to be an award, not a unit insignia. The circular badge, made of a thin pressed sheet of brass and measuring 5 cm. in diameter, shows the head of the goddess Athena / Minerva, who was also seen on the crest of the 1st, 2nd, and the only remaining during the time of its institution, 3rd Greek Brigade.
The depiction of Athena appears to be rather one-dimensional, with her head turned to the right at an unnatural angle and large, disproportionate shoulders. This is actually an illusion, since it is most probably only a partial view of a larger piece of art, the 1st century B.C. Roman statue of Athena Promachos, excavated at the Villa of the Papyri in Hercolaneum. The statue, a smaller scale copy of the allegedly 9 m. tall, 5th century B.C. Greek one, originally located in the Acropolis of Athens, later transported to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in 1203 A.D., is itself intentionally sculpted in such a manner as to appear two-dimensional.
Promachos, a name attributed to the statue, means the hoplite fighting in the foremost ranks of the phalanx. So, the goddess is facing the enemy, protected behind her shield, held high, and holding a raised spear in her right hand, ready to strike. The partial view of the two raised arms then possibly gives the impression of the disproportionately large shoulders.
Promachos, a name attributed to the statue, means the hoplite fighting in the foremost ranks of the phalanx. So, the goddess is facing the enemy, protected behind her shield, held high, and holding a raised spear in her right hand, ready to strike. The partial view of the two raised arms then possibly gives the impression of the disproportionately large shoulders.
Comparing the details of the helmet and the scale mail cloak between the statue and the depiction on the badge, the similarities are evident. One interesting detail is the fact that the latter appears to be a mirror image of the first. Just as a wild guess, could perhaps the original design of the badge have been based on a misprinted photo negative?
According to the available evidence, the badge was manufactured in Italy and awarded before the return of the Brigade to Greece, in a quantity of approximately 3.500 pieces. The pressed bronze sheet manufacture, seen on many Italian pre-war and wartime dated insignia, as well as "locally made" Allied ones after the Invasion in the Italian peninsula, seems to be one more supporting element.
According to the memoirs of Zachos Chatzifotiou (1), then serving as a Staff Sergeant with the Brigade:
According to the memoirs of Zachos Chatzifotiou (1), then serving as a Staff Sergeant with the Brigade:
[One day, my Captain tells me: "I want the Brigade to make a badge with the head of Athena on it, a laurel wreath all around it, and to have III E.O.T. inscribed somewhere on the side, meaning 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade". And he opens a drawer and hands me over a drawing, exactly matching his description, made by two "artist" soldiers, from those who had never seen a fight, always sitting behind a desk, "from the rooftiles", as we said, because they were always in a building and under a roof.
I told him I couldn't imagine how this could be done in Taranto, but in Taranto it was possible for us to learn where it could be done. "And how many of those do we want, Captain, Sir?" "Three and a half thousand, as many as the soldiers are".]
Further, he states that he was directed to "a department of the Italian state mint, which had some office in Taranto" (2), where he was informed that:
"[I]n Rome, they could make them for us, exactly like we wanted them, within a reasonable time period of twenty days, but an officer should go there, authorized by the Brigade, in order to sign the order, make the downpayment and the like." (3)
Unfortunately, public information on the maker has not surfaced yet. One hint might be present on the badge itself, though. Just above the hair of the helmet crest, on the lower right quarter, there is a possible maker's mark, the identification of which could be the answer to the question.
As a last piece of evidence for the time being, a photograph taken in Taranto, in 1944. (4) All the picured men are wearing the badge on their right breast pockets. If the caption is right, then the place of manufacture is undoubtedly Italy.
Notes:
1: Χατζηφωτίου, Ζάχος, "Στα Μονοπάτια του Πολέμου", Ωκεανίδα, Αθήνα, 1997, p. 159.
2: As above, p. 160.
3: As above, p. 165
4: http://naxos365.blogspot.gr/2014/03/blog-post_8621.html
1: Χατζηφωτίου, Ζάχος, "Στα Μονοπάτια του Πολέμου", Ωκεανίδα, Αθήνα, 1997, p. 159.
2: As above, p. 160.
3: As above, p. 165
4: http://naxos365.blogspot.gr/2014/03/blog-post_8621.html