…It all began here, in this small workshop. A great block of marble, a handful of tools, and the sculptor’s hands. What was his name? I do not know—I never heard it. The only thing I remember is his hands. Strong, yet gentle. As he worked, he would whistle a cheerful tune. Then, one day, after a very long time, the whistling ceased. The hands laid down their tools. ‘That’s it,’ I heard him say. ‘It’s finished.’ ‘Finished? What is finished?’ I wondered. Then I understood. His work was complete. He had taken a block of marble and transformed it into a proud and powerful lion, frozen in an eternal roar. And that lion was me!…”
With these words, our narrator—the celebrated Lion of Kythera—begins the tale of his extraordinary life, a story featured in “Narratives – Stories and Fairy Tales for Children and Grown-Ups”, airing on Voice of Greece on Saturday, 20 June 2026, from 17:00 to 18:00 Athens time.
Published by Kedros Editions, this captivating book introduces young readers to the history and remarkable adventures of the marble Lion of Kythera. Through a narrative that is both accessible and engaging, children’s author, archaeologist, and Ministry of Culture official Evi Pini brings to life the lion’s long and eventful journey.
The book is beautifully illustrated by archaeologist and designer Giannis Nakas, whose artwork accompanies readers—young and old alike—on the lion’s travels, culminating in his triumphant return, decades later, to his homeland of Kythera.
Children are encouraged to explore the fascinating material included at the end of the book: the statue’s original registration record from the archives of the National Archaeological Museum, as well as the appendix “The Story of the Lion of Kythera: From Fiction to Reality.” There they will discover a richly documented timeline, illustrated with photographs and historical information, tracing the lion’s most significant milestones and his long-awaited return to the Museum of Kythera.
Join us on ERT’s global radio service as we follow the remarkable journey of one of Greece’s most beloved marble guardians—the legendary Lion of Kythera.
Produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona
Broadcast: Saturday, 20 June 2026, 17:00 Athens time
