- The “Tree of Souls – The Beginning” serves as a permanent memorial for the victims of the Tempi train tragedy.
- Located in Athens, it stands in Ermos and Pireos Park, near Gazi’s Technopolis.
- Created by artist Maria Mandaki and the Santexis brothers’ studio, it features 57 branches and birds.
- Names and ages of the victims are carved into the birds’ wings.
Athens Mayor Harry Doukas attended a ceremony unveiling “The Tree of Souls – The Beginning,” a poignant new memorial dedicated to the victims of the catastrophic train crash at Tempi. Planted in Ermos and Pireos Park, across from the Technopolis of Athens, the monument stands as a somber reminder of responsibility, safety, and lost lives.
The ceremony drew a crowd, including victims’ families, local officials, and residents who gathered to honor the 57 individuals whose lives were tragically cut short. Mayor Doukas declared, “The Tree of Souls is here to remind us of our duty—to carve a path of hope while ensuring such pain is never repeated.”
The monument, a fusion of art and anguish—reminds all of us that democracy and justice aren’t takeout items. During the unveiling ceremony, “Never again Tempi!” resonated throughout the mayor’s heartfelt address, echoing an unspoken demand for systemic change.
Sorrow Takes Root
Artist Maria Mandaki designed this monument to be raw yet poetic—a tree bearing 57 branches, each holding a unique bird with the victim’s names and ages engraved onto their wings. Each of those delicate birds carries a loss deeply personal to someone, with the victims’ first names and ages etched into their wings.
Crafted by artists Giannis and Giorgos Santexis—known for their artisanal metalwork—the Tree of Souls stands tall and unflinching, an undeniable symbol of the memories that refuse to fade.
In Thessaloniki, a monument titled “The Tree of Memory” now stands as a somber tribute to those lost in the catastrophic Tempi train collision. Designed by Maria Mandaki and sculpted by Ioannis Santexis, the structure honors the 57 lives cut short just over two years ago. Located in Nea Paralia’s parkland, it is a solemn tribute, though it also reminds us that public transportation still needs much help.
