Evzone
| Presidential Guard Προεδρική Φρουρά |
|
|---|---|
Evzone guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens wearing the full dress uniform
|
|
| Active | 1833 – present |
| Country |
 Greece
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Foot Guards - Infantry |
| Role |
|
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of |
 Hellenic Army
|
| Garrison/HQ | Athens, Greece ("Camp of Georgios Tzavelas") |
| Nickname(s) | Tsoliades |
| Uniform |
|
| March | Evzonaki |
| Rifle |
|
| Website | Official Homepage |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief | President of the Hellenic Republic |
| Notable commanders |
Nikolaos Plastiras |
| Insignia | |
| Shoulder patch |  |
The Evzones, or Evzoni (Greek: Εύζωνες, Εύζωνοι, pronounced [evˈzones, evˈzoni]), is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Presidential Guard (Greek: Προεδρική Φρουρά; Proedrikí Frourá), an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Greek: Μνημείο του Άγνωστου Στρατιώτη; Mnimeío tou Άgnostou Stratiόti), the Presidential Mansion and the gate of Evzones camp in Athens. An Evzone (Greek: Εύζωνας) is also known, colloquially, as a Tsoliás (Greek: Τσολιάς, Τσολιάδες; pl. Tsoliádes).
Though the Presidential Guard is a primarily ceremonial unit, all Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army's Infantry Corps. Prospective Evzones are initially identified at the Infantry Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training; there is a minimum height requirement of 1.87 m (6' 1.3") to join.
The unit is known for its uniform, which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their distinctive dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.
The word evzōnos (Greek: εὔζωνος) is first attested in Homer's Iliad and derives from εὖ and ζώνη, meaning "well-girt". The word was used by ancient writers for centuries to describe a type of light infantry of unidentified equipment, probably used as a generic term to denote light infantry.
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Wikipedia