To mark the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies presents the exhibition “Gennadius 100: A Century of Inspiration,” celebrating the course of Hellenism through books, print culture, and intellectual history.
Among the standout exhibits is the Grammar of Constantine Lascaris, printed in Milan in 1476—the first book produced entirely in Greek—alongside the 1488 first edition of Homer’s complete works, edited by Demetrios Chalkokondyles and considered the most valuable item in the collection of Ioannis Gennadios.
The exhibition also features the 1713 Erotokritos, once thought to be the only surviving copy worldwide; Lyric and Bacchic Poems by Athanasios Christopoulos (1825), the first book printed in Athens and in modern Greece; and a rare parchment edition of Lucian, one of only three known copies globally. Together, these works offer a clear and engaging overview of Greek literary and printing history.
On view at the Makriyannis Wing through July 26, the exhibition also traces the Library’s own evolution and the people behind it. A tribute to Ioannis Gennadios and his wife Florence includes personal objects such as his diplomatic uniform and silver inkwell, while the curatorial approach emphasizes the Library’s transformation from a private collection into an international research center.
As part of the exhibition, 45 researchers selected items that reflect the Library’s significance to their work, including a theatrical poster on the Siege of Missolonghi, chosen by Konstantinos Stefanis, and material studied by Professor Elizabeth Fraser.
Princeton professor and School fellow Karin Emmerich highlights a photograph from the archive of Stratis Venezi. The collections themselves have grown through major donations, beginning with Gennadios and later including Heinrich Schliemann, Odysseas Elytis, the Dragoumis family, and prominent Greek writers.
The exhibition also presents travel albums such as Edward Dodwell’s view of Larissa, as well as key documents from the Greek War of Independence, including the first Greek Constitution printed in Corinth in 1822.
Founded on the vision of Ioannis Gennadios (1844–1932), the Library grew out of his lifelong effort to collect works on post-antique Hellenism, from Byzantium and Orthodoxy to the evolution of the Greek language and Western perceptions of Greece. In 1922, he donated some 26,000 volumes to the American School of Classical Studies, leading to the Library’s inauguration in 1926.
Today, it remains a leading research institution, with its rare collections housed in specially designed underground facilities.
Exhibition Details
Duration: April 1 – July 26, 2026
Hours: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 12:00–18:00 | Thu: 12:00–20:00
Admission: Free
