Eleni Tositsa

Eleni Tositsa (1796 – 1 April 1866; Greek: Ελένη Τοσίτσα) was a major benefactor to cultural and educational establishments in Greece, including the National Archaeological Museum and the National Technical University of Athens.

[1][2] She married Michael Tositsas in 1818 and moved with him first to Alexandria in 1820 and then to Athens in 1854.

[4][2] After her husband's death in 1855, she inherited most of his property, which he instructed in his will should be used to benefit the Greek state.

[7] The name 'Metsovio' refers to the town of Metsovo in Epirus, the hometown of Eleni Tositsa and Michael Tositsas as well as two other benefactors, Nikolaos Stournaris and Georgios Averof.

[7] The National Archaeological Museum, which was originally located in Aegina, was transferred to Athens when this city became the capital in 1834; construction of a purpose-built building began in 1866 after Tositsa donated the plot of land on which the museum is now located, and the building opened to the public in 1889.