Initiation into a secret society in the 18th century (Source: Wikipedia)

In 1809, five years before the founding of the Philiki Etaireia and twelve years before the start of the Greek Revolution, the secret organization “Hellenophone Hotel” (Hôtel Hellénophone) was founded in Paris. This society was the first pre-revolutionary Greek organization, whose primary goal was the intellectual rebirth of the Greeks and the preparation of an uprising against the Ottomans.

The historical context of the era and the organization’s headquarters

The founding of the “Hellenophone Hotel” can be viewed as part of the broader trend of the era toward the emergence of a new type of secret society characterized by a conspiratorial nature, ritual initiation procedures, and the politicization of its members [1].

In late 1823 and early 1824, the United States was in the midst of a veritable wave of Philhellenism. Fundraisers and celebratory events were organized in various cities across the country to support the rebellious Greeks [1]. One of the cities that took the lead in these events was New York, where a Philhellenic Committee was established in December 1823. The wave of sympathy for the Greek Revolution, however, also spread to the surrounding areas of the state of the same name.

In the town of Ithaca, located in Tompkins County, northwest of New York City, a meeting of residents was held on New Year’s Day 1824 with the aim of supporting the struggling Greeks. In the days that followed, the residents of this small town raised money to send to Europe to support the Greek struggle. One of the citizens of Ithaca who enthusiastically supported this initiative was the town’s only barber, Robert Maines.

“A Warm Welcome for the Philhellenes in Greece,” copperplate engraving. (Source: Museum of Philhellenism Collection)

The term “Philhellenes” refers to foreign nationals who, during the Greek War of Independence of 1821, contributed in their own way to achieving the goal of Greek independence. Their contribution was multifaceted, as they supported the Revolution not only on the battlefield but also on the diplomatic, economic, and ideological fronts.

As for the military aspect, during the Struggle, approximately 1,200 Philhellenes arrived in Greece and fought; they came from various European countries as well as from the United States [1]. The Philhellenic fighters were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, liberals and radicals, enthusiastic students, and even adventurers [2].

Anna Eynard–Lullin (Source: Wikipedia)

Anna Eynard–Lullin (1793–1868) was born on May 26, 1793, in the municipality of Lancy in the canton of Geneva; she was the fifth and last child of banker Michel Lullin de Châteauvieux and Amélie Christine Pictet. Her full name was Charlotte Adélaide Anne [1].

In 1810, at the age of 17, she married the prominent philhellene politician and banker Jean-Gabriel Eynard (1775–1863) [2]. The couple initially lived at Cour Saint-Pierre and later built the Palais Eynard, which today houses the offices of the Geneva Administrative Council (Conseil Administratif de Genève).

Savon des Grecs – Soap of the Greeks (Source: Collection of the National Historical Museum, inv. no. 837)

Nineteenth-century Philhellenism was more than just a political movement; it was a popular trend that influenced literature, the arts, fashion, and commerce. During the years of the Greek War of Independence, it gained immense popularity in Europe, particularly in France, leading to the production of everyday household items featuring scenes from the Greek Revolution and the lives of the Greeks [1].

Thus, dinnerware, vases, clocks, and other objects or products were decorated with philhellenic scenes, circulated in the markets of 19th-century Europe, and found their way into the homes of Europeans of that era.