AGRAPIDOCHORI – ILIDA: THE ROUTE OF HERCULES 2020
According to ancient tradition, anyone who arrived armed at the “sacred land of Zeus,”
Ilida, was required to deposit their weapons at the borders of the territory and reclaim
them upon departure. Moreover, during the Olympic Games, all hostilities and wars were
required to cease. The Games were dedicated to the Father of the Gods, and values such as
Fair Play and noble competition were placed at the forefront. In confirmation of these
principles, the prize was not a valuable material good, but a simple branch of wild olive —
the kotinos.

This year, in the square of Agrapidchori in Ilida, two warriors dressed in ancient attire
and bearing arms laid down their weapons and received, from priestesses (of the dance
school of Mrs. Zoi Andritsou), an olive branch — the eternal symbol of peace and of the
ancient Olympic Games. They then handed these to the ultra–long-distance runner and modern
hemerodromos, Wing Commander (AF) Ioannis Kouros, and to the marathon runner and
long-standing holder of the Greek national records in the marathon and 10,000 metres,
Captain (HN) Spyros Andriopoulos, Director of ASAED, who led the
1st Route of Hercules (from the square of Agrapidchori to Ancient Ilida).
Read more about the Symbolic Laying Down of Arms HERE

The two runner-athletes of the Supreme Council for Sports of the Armed Forces (ASAED)
were excellently accompanied by distinguished members, such as Police Captain
Maria Karpathaki (coach of the Armed Forces & Security Services National Taekwondo Team
and Taekwondo World Champion), Fire Officer Stelios Bispas (Greek national champion
with major international distinctions), Fire Officer Deniz Dimaki (Greek marathon and
triathlon champion), ultra-distance runner Lieutenant Commander (HN) Athanasios Michas,
among others. Participation in the 1st Route of Hercules was exclusively limited to
athletes of the Armed Forces and Security Services.

The medals, as well as the costumes of the ancient warriors, were created by sculptor
Giorgos Roussis. The commemorative items presented to the leaders of the route–procession
were designed by sculptor Evangelos Moustakas.

In the ritual ceremony, the priestesses were members of the School of Mrs.
Zoi Andritsou.