The sculpture’s history dates back to 1953, when Zongolopoulos moved to Italy with his wife Eleni Paschalidou-Zoggolopoulou, under a scholarship by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation. There, he had the opportunity to study Italian Renaissance art, specialize in bronze-casting techniques, and explore the art scene beyond realism. In May 1953, the Greek Ministry of Education announced a national competition for the Zalongo Monument. Architect Patroklos Karantinos immediately informed his close friend, who started drawing sketches and creating models of the sculpture, in which he embodied the Florence School’s main characteristics, such as clarity of form, synthesis and concept of the subject, dynamic compositions, spatial distribution, depth, and solidity. The sculpture Monument of Zalongo was awarded the first prize at the national competition held by the Ministry of Education in 1953. It was constructed in situ on a 700m cliff at Mount Zalongo, thanks to two fundraising campaigns by Greek students.