THE ACADEMY OF ATHENS work includes: the compilation of the Historical Dictionary of the Greek stone was ceremoniously laid on August 2nd 1859 in the presence of King Language, the editing and publication of Ancient Greek, Byzantine Otto and Queen Amalia, the members of the Government and the Holy The Academy was the philosophical school founded in 387 B.C. in Athens and Latin texts, the conducting of research on Greek Folklore, Greek Synod. The building was completed in 1887 and was presented to the by the philosopher Plato near the sanctuary of the hero Academos to Philosophy, History of Greek Law, Theoretical and Applied Mathematics Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis by the architect Ernst Ziller (1837- the south-east of present-day Kolonos district. The school, after nine and Astronomy, Scientific Terms and Neologisms, Atmospheric Physics 1923), Hansen’s assistant. The Academy building is considered as the centuries of functioning, was closed down in 529 A.D. by an imperial and Climatology, Medieval Hellenism, Modern Greek History, Byzantine most beautiful neoclassical edifice in the world. The masterpiece of the decree banning the teaching of philosophy. Subsequently, mainly from and Post-Byzantine Art, Antiquity, and Greek Society. Erechtheion inspired Theophil Hansen for the architectural elements of the the Renaissance and on, the fame of the Platonic Academy triggered, Ionic order, which characterizes the edifice. On the exterior, the building in several countries, the foundation of Supreme Centres of Learning, has rich sculptural decoration, the main element of which is the central which adopted the name «Academy». In modern Greece attempts were pediment, which depicts Athena’s birth and is the work of the sculptor repeatedly made, but it was only in 1926 that the Academy of Athens was Leonidas Drossis (1834-1882). The eight smaller pediments of the side founded following the model of the European Academies. Since then, it wings with sculptural compositions were the work of Franz Melnitzki. The has been active uninterruptedly. two statues, of Apollo the Lyre-player and of Athena Promachos, both on tall Ionic columns, are the work of Leonidas Drossis. They symbolize the continuation of the ancient Greek spirit by the Academy, a spirit which is personified by the two gods and the two philosophers, Socrates and Plato, whose seated statues in front of the building were also created by Leonidas Drossis. The painted decoration of the Assembly Hall consists of eight panels executed in oil on canvas by the painter Christian Griepenkerl (1839- 1916), a student of Carl Rahl (1812-1865). The paintings are related to the The Academy of Athens by Theophil Hansen The statues of Athena and Apollo on each side of the main entrance of the Academy of Athens The main purpose of the Academy of Athens is the advancement of the Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts through the individual research and activities of its members, the collaboration between its members and other Research is also carried out by the Offices of Modern Greek Art, Academies, the conduct of research in its Research Centres and Offices, International and Constitutional Institutions, Economic Research, and and the support of the work of scientists, artists and literary personalities several others of the Order of Natural Sciences. There is also a Library outside the circle of the Academy’s own members. The Academy of containing 200.000 titles. A Foundation of Biomedical Research functions Athens includes three Orders: the Order of Natural Sciences, the Order of under the auspices of the Academy. Humanities and Fine Arts, and the Order of Moral and Political Sciences. The Academy building, of the Ionic order, was erected according to the The Academicians communicate the outcome of research in Plenary designs of the famous Danish architect Theophil Hansen (1813-1891) at Sessions, public meetings and lectures. Scientific research is conducted in the expense of Simon Sinas (1810-1876), a wealthy Greek established in the Research Centres by groups of expert scientists, under the supervision Austro-Hungary originating from Northern Epirus, on a site donated by of a Committee of Academicians assigned to each Centre. This research the Municipality of Athens and the Petraki Monastery. The foundation The Ceremonial Hall of the Academy of Athens RESEARCH CENTRES, OFFICES AND FOUNDATIONS OF THE ACADEMY OF ATHENS prevailing nineteenth century notions about the role of the Academies as 1. Research Centre for Modern Greek Dialects – I.L.N.E. (Alex. Soutsou 22, Athens 106 71, tel.: 211 2111000, fax: 210 3609187, e-mail: [email protected]) bearers of wisdom and light. Their theme is the myth of Prometheus about 2. Hellenic Folklore Research Centre man’s creation and his gift of fire and light. (Ipitou 3, Athens 105 57, tel.: 210 3318042, fax: 210 3313418, e-mail: [email protected]) 3. Research Centre for Medieval and Modern Greek Studies The eight panels depict this myth, starting from the left side of the doorway (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664611, fax: 210 3664637, e-mail: [email protected]) 4. Research Centre for the History of Greek Law to the Hall. On the first panel, Prometheus’ mother, Themis, prophesies (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664627, fax: 210 3664630, e-mail: [email protected]) 5. Research Centre for the Study of Modern Greek History her son’s future fate. On the second panel, Prometheus, with Athena’s help, (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664602, fax: 210 3664661, e-mail: [email protected]) is ready to take the fire from the Sun. The third panel depicts the creation 6. Research Centre for Greek and Latin Literature (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel./fax: 210 3664630, e-mail: [email protected]) of man. On the fourth panel, which is on the wall facing the entrance to 7. Research Centre for Astronomy and Applied Mathematics the Hall, a scene of Titanomachy depicts the victory of the Olympian gods (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6597648, fax: 210 6597602, e-mail: [email protected]) 8. Research Centre for Greek Philosophy over the Titans. On the fifth panel, on the wall to the right, Prometheus (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664625, fax: 210 3664624, e-mail: [email protected]) 9. Research Centre for Scientific Terms and Neologisms ACADEMY OF ATHENS brings light and fire to men. On the sixth, Prometheus is depicted bound (Smolensky 17, Athens 114 73, tel.: 210 3664732, fax: 210 3626990, e-mail: [email protected]) on Mount Caucasus with the eagle devouring his liver. On the seventh, 10. Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology (Solonos 84, Athens 106 80, tel.: 210 8832048, fax: 210 8842098, e-mail: [email protected]) Heracles releases Prometheus. On the eighth panel, extending over the 11. Research Centre for Antiquity (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664612, fax: 210 3602448, e-mail: [email protected]) entrance door, Heracles introduces Prometheus to Olympus. The paintings 12. Research Centre for the Greek Society are characterized by the monumentality of the figures, the heroic pathos, (Milioni 8, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3609990, fax: 210 3609960, e-mail: [email protected]) 13. Research Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art and the idealistic elements, with forms borrowed from the great Masters of (Anagnostopoulou 14, Athens 106 73, tel.: 210 3664613, fax: 210 3664652, e-mail: [email protected]) the sixteenth century, especially Michelangelo, and the baroque tradition. 14. Research Centre for Theoretical and Applied Mathematics (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6597159, fax: 210 6597600, e-mail: [email protected]) 15. Research Office of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel./fax: 210 6597517, e-mail: [email protected]) 16. Research Office of the Science of Information and Electronics (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6250911, e-mail: [email protected]) 17. Research Office of Theoretical Physics (Voulis 27Α, Athens 105 57, e-mail: [email protected]) 18. Research Office of Experimental Physics (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6597667, fax: 210 6597641, e-mail: [email protected]) 19. Research Office of Military and Defence Affairs (War Museum, Rizari 2, Athens 106 75, tel.: 210 7252975, ext. 192) 20. Office of Space Research and Technology (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6597123, e-mail: [email protected]) 21. Office of Epidemiological Research (Tetrapoleos 10-12, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 7770697, e-mail: [email protected]) 22. Research Office for Modern Hellenic Art (Solonos 84, Athens 106 80, tel.: 210 3664709, e-mail: [email protected]) 23. Research Office of International and Constitutional Institutions (Solonos 84, Athens 106 80, fax: 210 3664742, e-mail: [email protected]) 24. Office for Economic Research (Solonos 84, Athens 106 80, tel.: 210 3664734, fax: 210 3664746, e-mail: [email protected]) 25. Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 115 27, tel.: 210 6597000, fax: 210 6597545, e-mail: [email protected]) 26. Kostas and Eleni Ouranis Foundation (Othonos 8, Athens 105 57, tel.: 210 3225338, fax: 210 3225280, e-mail: [email protected]) 27. Petros Charis Foundation (Valaoritou 9, Athens 106 71, tel.: 210 3642142, fax: 210 3642143, e-mail: [email protected]) 28. “Elli Lambridi” Philosophical Library (Ipsilantou 9, Athens 106 75, tel.: 210 7219587, e-mail: [email protected]) ACADEMY OF ATHENS The statues of Plato and Socrates in front of the Academy of Athens 28 PANEPISTIMIOU Str • ΑTHENS 106 79, GREECE • ΤEL.: 210 3664700, FAX: 210 3634806 e-mail: [email protected], website: www.academyofathens.gr.