The Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, one of Greece’s most storied intellectual institutions, celebrates a century of existence.
To mark the 100th anniversary of its founding, it presents the centennial exhibition, “Gennadius 100: A Century of Inspiration,” opening to the public on April 1, 2026.
The exhibition offers a multi-layered narrative of the Library’s history and the enduring journey of Hellenism as captured within its vast collections. Through 100 curated artifacts—including rare books, manuscripts, fine art, maps, and archival treasures—the exhibition traces the evolution of an institution that began as a magnificent private collection and grew into a world-renowned center for research.
Beyond the artifacts themselves, the display highlights the human element: the collectors, donors, researchers, and librarians who shaped the Library’s unique identity. Visitors will explore a world where history, art, and scholarship converge, featuring documents ranging from antiquity to the modern era, personal archives of influential figures, and rare historical maps of the Eastern Mediterranean.
“This exhibition is not merely a retrospective; it is a gateway to the future,” notes Maria Georgopoulou, Director of the Gennadius Library. “It underscores the power of knowledge as a living, breathing process that continues to evolve.”
Founded in 1926 by the diplomat and scholar Ioannis Gennadios—who gifted his 26,000-volume collection to the American School—the Gennadius Library has become a premier pillar for the study of Hellenism.
Gennadius Library holds world-class treasures
While the library holds 150,000 volumes, certain items are considered world-class treasures:
- The First Edition of Homer: The Editio Princeps of the Iliad and Odyssey, printed in Florence in 1488.
- The Flora Graeca: A legendary 19th-century botanical work. It is one of the rarest and most beautiful color-plate books ever produced, documenting the plants of Greece.
- The Makriyannis Paintings: A set of 24 watercolours commissioned by General Makriyannis (a hero of the Greek War of Independence) to illustrate the battles of the Revolution. Panagiotis Zografos painted them under the General’s specific instructions.
- Schliemann’s Archives: The library holds the personal papers and diaries of Heinrich Schliemann, the archaeologist who discovered Troy and Mycenae.
The Gennadeion is one of the two major libraries of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, the other being the Blegen Library. While the Blegen focuses on prehistoric and classical archaeology, the Gennadius focuses on post-classical Greece: the Byzantine Empire, the period of Ottoman rule, and the Modern Greek state.
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