One of the country’s most important intellectual institutions is celebrating a century of life. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens presents the anniversary exhibition “Gennadius 100: A Century of Inspiration,” which opens to the public on April 1, 2026.
The exhibition offers a multi-layered narrative of the Library’s history, as well as of the broader course of Hellenism as reflected in its holdings. Through one hundred selected objects, rare books, manuscripts, works of art, maps, and archival material, it highlights the evolution of an institution that grew from a private collection into an international research center.
The exhibits, accompanied by photographs and audiovisual material, shed light not only on the collection itself but also on the people behind it: collectors, donors, researchers, and librarians who shaped the identity of the Gennadius Library.
Visitors are invited to explore a world where history, art, and scholarship coexist, from materials that trace the development of Hellenism from antiquity to the present day, to personal archives of significant figures and rare historical maps of the eastern Mediterranean.
“The exhibition is not only a retrospective of the past, but also a starting point for the future. It highlights the dynamic nature of knowledge as a living process that continues to evolve,” notes the Director of the Gennadius Library, Maria Georgopoulou.
The exhibition unfolds across ten thematic sections, forming a unified narrative. Indicatively:
- The Vision – the creation of Ioannis Gennadius’s collection
- The Foundation – the birth of the Library as an institution
- The Legacy – the donations that shaped it
- The Collections – rare books, manuscripts, and archives
- Beyond the Book – works of art, maps, and visual material
- People – the individuals behind the Library
- Research – its contribution to the humanities
- Networks – its international presence and collaborations
- A Library Without Borders – its cultural outreach
- The Future – digital transition and its role in the 21st century
These sections are presented within the I. Makriyannis Wing exhibition space in a way that allows visitors to follow multiple paths, historical, thematic, and experiential, shaping their own reading of the Gennadius Library.
Founded in 1926 by the diplomat and scholar Ioannis Gennadius, who donated his collection of 26,000 volumes, the Gennadius Library has developed into one of the most important centers for the study of Hellenism worldwide. Today, it holds more than 150,000 volumes and hosts researchers and fellows from around the globe, functioning as a vibrant hub of scholarship and culture.
Duration: April 1 – July 26, 2026
