Members of the public have begun filing past the coffin of Dionysis Savvopoulos in the chapel of the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, ahead of his funeral at 1 p.m.
The public may pay their respects to Savvopoulos, who died on Tuesday aged 80, until 11.30 a.m.
Following the funeral ceremony, Savvopoulos will be laid to rest at Athens First Cemetery. The funeral is being held at public expense, following a joint ministerial decision.
The family has requested that, instead of wreaths, donations be made to the Music Department of the Ionian University, where he taught, and to the Department of Music Science and Art at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, his birthplace.
Savvopoulos was a central figure in Greek music and cultural life for more than six decades. He rose to prominence during the 1967–1974 military dictatorship with songs that combined allegory, politics and folk traditions, leaving a lasting mark on modern Greek songwriting.
Traffic restrictions are in effect for the duration of the funeral and burial, with the following streets closed temporarily: Mitropoleos (entire length), Aiolou (between Andrianou and Ermou), Ermou (between Aiolou and Athinas), Anapafseos (entire length, including side streets), and Trivonianou (between Kareas and Markou Mousourou).
Police have urged drivers to avoid the affected areas and follow the directions of traffic officers.
