The Evzones Collection

The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis is a photographic exhibition, coffee table book and series of fine art prints about the Evzones, the soldiers of the Greek Presidential Guard. For ten years, since 2016, Sydney photographer Nick Bourdaniotis has been granted rare, behind-the-scenes access to their daily lives – in Athens whenever he is in Greece, and in Australia, where he is the official photographer whenever the Hellenic Presidential Guard visits. Prepare to fall in love with the strength, solidarity, and mystique of the Evzones.

Who are the Evzones?

The Evzones (Εύζωνες) serve in the Hellenic Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit of the Hellenic Army with a history dating back to 1868. They guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square around the clock, with a new pair taking over every hour and a full ceremony with a military band every Sunday at 11 am. Their uniform comes from the fighters of 1821. It includes the white fustanella with its 400 pleats, the red farion cap, and the hand-made tsarouchia. Read our complete guide to the Evzones to learn more about this famous Athens guard.

Behind the scenes with the Hellenic Presidential Guard

Nick first photographed the Evzones when a Presidential Guard detachment came to Sydney in 2016. He continued the work in Athens, where he had access to every area of the Garrison and every ceremonial duty. In his words, he set out to capture them “at places where very few are privileged even to get a glimpse of them, doing things that most are not even aware they did.” Successive Heads of the Garrison and the Greek Presidential Guard have personally endorsed the collection. It is also endorsed by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and by Greece’s Ambassador and Consulates General in Australia. Meet Nick Bourdaniotis.

From Sydney to Athens

The exhibition opened in Sydney in February 2021 for the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, under the auspices of Archbishop Makarios of Australia. It has since toured Australia, including the National Museum of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum, and more than 7,000 people have seen it. In March 2023, the collection was shown at the Athens War Museum under the patronage of the then President of the Hellenic Republic. It was the first exhibition of its kind by Greeks of the diaspora. That December, Nick donated the entire Athens exhibition to the Presidency for permanent display in the Presidential Palace and at the Evzones’ headquarters. A US tour is now in preparation. See the highlights in the Evzones gallery.

Bring the Evzones home

The Evzones Collection coffee table book gathers the whole exhibition into one landscape volume printed on archival satin silk paper. It’s a real collector’s item and family keepsake. Every photograph is also available as a fine art Evzones print on metallic canvas or Alucrystal, from A3 to A0. Shop the book and prints

Frequently asked questions

Who are the Evzones? They are the soldiers of Greece’s Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit of the Hellenic Army that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens. When does the guard change in Athens? The guards change every hour, day and night, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square. The full ceremony takes place every Sunday at 11 am. Both are free to watch. Is The Evzones Collection officially endorsed? Yes. The Garrison and the Greek Presidential Guard endorsed it, and the Athens exhibition was held under the patronage of the then President of the Hellenic Republic. Do you ship overseas? Yes. We ship to Australia, Greece, the USA, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. For any other country, please send us an enquiry.