Rare 1974 Polytechnic uprising footage released for the first time

The School of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) has released a rare nine-minute black-and-white film documenting the first anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising, which took place on November 17, 1974. The historical footage was discovered on film reels hidden in the basement of the university’s Tositsa building and was captured by Giannis Simiriotis, a former employee of the school's photography laboratory.

The video depicts a significant moment in Greek history, occurring just months after the collapse of the military dictatorship. It features iconic Greek performers Nikos Xylouris, Maria Farantouri, and Antonis Kalogiannis singing the anti-dictatorship anthem "Min xehnas ton Oropos" (Do not forget Oropos) by Mikis Theodorakis before thousands of citizens. The footage captures the emotional atmosphere as the performers pass the microphone to one another, reflecting the collective memory and resistance of the era.

This material provides a direct, firsthand look at the commemorations held in 1974, illustrating the massive public attendance of students, families, and elderly citizens. The footage has now been made accessible to the public via a YouTube upload by the university, preserving a previously unseen chapter of the post-dictatorship period for historical study.