The 4th of December, day of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners, as well as of all those who work with explosives, but also a day of celebration of the industry around the world, was celebrated with great success by the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering.

The event took place at the Mineralogical Museum of the School, which was filled up with guests and was attended by the Rector of NTUA, Professor A. Boudouvis, the Deputy Rector Professors E. Sapountzakis, I. Chatzigeorgiou and D. Gintidis, the Dean of the School of Naval Engineering G. Grigoropoulos, colleagues from other Schools of NTUA, friends of the Museum, young and old graduates of the School and many students.

The event was commenced by an opening speech by the Dean of the School, Professor D. Kaliambakos and continued with the Rector of the NTUA, Professor A. Boudouvis, who addressed greetings and wishes to the School, on the occasion of the celebration.

Further, the School’s Dean referred to the most famous song of the miners, the “Sixteen Tons”, a song that has over 60 editions. The audience had the opportunity to listen to two of its unique editions, while the Dean delivered it in free translation. The first, was the best known edition performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford. The audience was then very pleasantly surprised by the second performance, by Nikos Apostolidis, a retired Professor of the School, 93 years old today, who had sang it, with an amazing voice, just a year ago and donated this performance to the School archive.

The main speech of the event: “From the lamp of Davy’s miners to the use of explosives in Art” was presented by the Professor of the School, G. Panagiotou. Unfolding the stories, as he mentioned, around the three names, Barbara, Humphry and Evelyn, he made a flashback to the tradition of connecting the industry with the feast of St. Barbara around the world, referring to the emblematic symbol of the industry, the mining lamp, and went as far as an unexpected use of explosives in Art (Detonography), providing in this way, the mark of an industry with strong traditions and identity, but also an industry that never ceases to amaze.

At the end of his speech, he showed a Clanny-Davy mining lamp in its current perfect form, from his personal collection. Mr. Panagiotou won over the audience attention, not only because of the depth of his knowledge of the industry but also his ability to highlight the serious aspects of the issues in a playful way and his characteristic humor.

The Academic Director of the Mineralogical Museum, Dep. Professor M. Perraki, wished Many Happy returns to the industry, but also to the geologists who also traditionally celebrate this day. She conveyed the greetings and wishes of the President of the Panhellenic Association of Certified Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Mr. Mavridis, and the President of the Department of Geology & Geo-environment of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor E. Lekkas. Finally, she thanked Professor G. Panagiotou, for his speech, as well as for the unique minerals, mining lamps and other equipment, from his personal collection, which he recently donated to gaio-ORAMA.

The students’ association of the School intervened during the event, raising the students’ problems and concerns.

The event came to an end with discussions around guests and a light meal, from which the traditional donuts of the miners’ festival could not be missing!

You may watch the event here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7HaXHBOJFw