University Seminar in Modern Greek

Perpetrators as Photographers: Reflections on the Thirteen Photographs of Kaisariani

University Seminar in Modern Greek

Perpetrators as Photographers: Reflections on the Thirteen Photographs of Kaisariani

Haris Vlavianos (American College of Greece)
Hamilton 411 and Online
10 █ November █ 2026
18 █ 00 - 19 █ 30 EST

In February 2026, thirteen photographs depicting the final moments of 200 Greek communists executed by a Nazi firing squad at the Kaisariani shooting range on May 1, 1944, were offered for sale on eBay by a private collector. Their extraordinary immediacy collapsed the distance between past and present, instantly capturing public attention. The Greek Ministry of Culture assembled a team of experts to assess the photographs’ authenticity and acquire them. In this seminar, poet and historian Haris Vlavianos joins Hellenic Studies faculty to examine these extraordinary images, situate them within the broader context of the Second World War and the Nazi occupation of Greece, and reflect on what they reveal about perpetrator photography, historical evidence, and the politics of memory.

This event is co-sponsored by the Program in Hellenic Studies.

Seating is limited. Registration closes at NOON on Monday, November 9th. If you do not have a Columbia ID, you will receive a QR code to access the campus. Register here.

EVENT MATERIAL

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