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T the hill in Gastouri. The palace was built in 1890-1891 by Italian

architects Raffaele Caritto and Antonio Landi. The Empress,
who became known as the “Reluctant Empress”, supervised the
decoration of the mansion herself and retired there. The palace
was named after Achilles, as an expression of her fondness
for the demigod. His mother, Thetis, held the false belief that
Achilles was invulnerable; fate had it that Elisabeth’s own son
should also die to an arrow, but this time in the heart, shot by
his forbidden love.
The palace features various portrayals of the Iliad’s hero. The
marble statue of “Dying Achilles” in the gardens portrays the
demigod with an expression of pain as he tries to pull the arrow
out of his heel. The statue was created by German sculptor
Ernst Gustav Herter and is the centerpiece of the palace. Both
the interior and exterior areas of Achilleion abound with works
of art with clear ancient Greek influences in theme and style.
The breathtaking views from the lush hillside The most prominent among the statues in the peristyle and
to the south of the city over the Halikiopoulos outside the mansion are the Nine Muses followed by Eros,
lagoon, Kanoni and Mount Pantokrator Satyr with infant Dionysus, the two bronze statues portraying
could not but captivate Elisabeth. Princess of wrestlers-runners, and “Resting Hermes”.
Bavaria, Empress of Austria and, later, Queen Inside, a beautiful fresco depicting the Four Seasons decorates
of Hungary, also known as Sisi, Elisabeth had the ceiling of the entrance hall. At the end of the imposing
visited Greece several times, most frequently stairway, the hall is dominated by “The Triumph of Achilles”,
travelling to Corfu. Her desire to learn Greek a large oil painting by Austrian artist Franz Matsch. In it, the
was spurred by her trips around the country. hero is seen on his chariot, dragging Hector’s lifeless body out
Writer Costantine Christomanos was the of the walls of Troy. Sisi’s Catholic chapel is also impressive.
man who introduced her to classical studies. The rooms showcase memorabilia of the Empress and Kaiser
As she could not stand the rigorous rules of Wilhelm II, photographic documents, medals, rare books and
aristocracy, Elisabeth embarked on a life of various items.
travels to escape dull court protocol. In 1889, After Elizabeth’s assassination in Geneva in 1898 by the Italian
her son, Crown Prince Archduke Rudolf, anarchist Luigi Lucheni, the mansion was abandoned until it
and his lover were found dead in Austria in was purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II, who commissioned the
unexplained circumstances, although it is grand bronze statue of “Achilles Victorious”. For the German
believed that they had fallen victims of their Emperor, the demigod represented his personal military genius
love. Sisi’s immense sadness and fragile health and future victories as leader of the Prussian forces, his own
prompted her doctor to recommend that she “Myrmidons”. During World Wars I and II, Achilleion was
moved to a milder climate. Corfu was the used as a hospital and military headquarters. After the war it
obvious choice. housed schools, and in 1962 it was leased out to a German
Elisabeth purchased the house of Greek company that turned it into a casino. In 1982 its management
philosopher Petros Vrailas Armenis on top of returned to the Greek State. In 1994 the palace hosted the

THETIMELINE

Birth year Wedding of
of Elisabeth, Elisabeth and
Empress of Franz Joseph I
Austria. Habsburg.
1837 1854
Έτος γέννησης Η Ελισάβετ
της Aυτοκράτειρας παντρεύεται τον
Ελισάβετ της Φραγκίσκο Ιωσήφ
Αυστρίας. Α' των Αψβούργων.

122 GREC14N S/W 2018-19