The name Yousouroum, now inseparable from the identity of a historic Athenian neighborhood, traces its roots back to 15th-century Spain. After the expulsion of Jews from Spain, the Yousouroum family settled in the Ottoman Empire, specifically in Smyrna (modern-day Izmir). Around 1830, Isaac Yousouroum, the family patriarch, sought new opportunities in the newly established Kingdom of Greece. The family first settled on the island of Chios, where their surname evolved from “Yousouroun” to “Yousouroum.” In 1863, they moved to Athens, the small but rapidly growing capital of Greece, home to fewer than 50,000 people at the time.
Athens in the mid-19th century, while still resembling a village, was beginning to emerge as a hub for commerce, banking, and industry. It became a vibrant meeting point for people and ideas, blending the energy of the modern age with the glamour of its classical heritage. Within this dynamic environment, Monastiraki developed into the city’s commercial heart, centered on Abyssinia Square, where a large auction house thrived.
In 1887, Elias Yousouroum, Isaac’s firstborn, expanded the family’s antique business in this bustling district, establishing it as a prominent center of the Jewish community in Athens. The first synagogue in Athens operated out of the family’s home at 1 Karaiskaki Street. Over time, the Yousouroum family’s antique shop became a symbol of the Auction House area, giving its name not only to the surrounding antique shops but also to flea markets throughout Athens.
Today, the legacy of the Yousouroum family endures in language and local culture. The word “Yousouroum” has become synonymous with flea markets and antique shops and evokes memories of Sunday strolls through the junk shops of Monastiraki. Though much of the area’s original topography has been lost, the name Yousouroum remains a landmark of Athens’ past, a bridge between its rich Jewish history and the vibrant life of the city.
