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The American School of Classical Studies

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is the oldest and largest U.S. overseas research centre.

  1. Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )


    1881 The school was founded. It started operating in 1882.

    1887 On March 12, the foundation stone was laid in the presence of international personalities and with the Greek customs of the time, i.e. with the presence of a priest and a slaughtered rooster.

    1889 Completed.

    1920 The boarding school was built.

    1959 A new wing was added.

    1991 Another wing was added.

    2017 Professor Jenifer Neils became the first female principal.

  2. Ottoman era (1453- 1821)


  3. Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)


  4. Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)


  5. Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)


  6. Classical era (478-323 BC)


  7. Archaic era (800-479 BC)


  8. Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)


  9. Prehistory (-1100 BC)


What I can see

Later extensions were made to the original two-storey neoclassical building and the complex we see today was created gradually. It was originally built for the purpose it serves to this day, that is to house the American School of Classical Studies.

What I can't see

It was initially housed in a building on Amalias Avenue and in Melas Mansion (Kotzia Square), until it was permanently housed here, following the intervention of Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis. The spot chosen was not the best at the time, because it was located on a stream and quite far from the then centre of the city. For this reason, anti-flood works were carried out. The purpose of establishing the school was to give the opportunity to American students to get to know and study the ancient monuments up close. This idea was mocked by the New York Times in their article, speaking of “an obnoxious spirit of innovation” and “unsatisfied, troublemakers and cracked teachers”. The school has carried out a huge archaeological project, which is being carried out to this day. Most important of all, is the excavation of the Ancient Agora of Athens and its expropriation costs, as well as the excavations at the archaeological sites of Thorikos, Makronissos, Corinth, Pnyx and the northern slope of the Acropolis. It has a rich research history and international publications, it is contracted with 170 colleges and universities in North America, and it has two important libraries (Blegen and Gennadius) and the Wiener laboratory. Finally, the school has been publishing the scientific journal “Hesperia” 4 times a year since 1932, and is one of the most valid journals of Hellenic studies worldwide.

Info

Bibliography

American School of Classical Studies at Athens

https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/publications/about-publications

Last visit 22/8/2022

 

Yohalas T., Kafetzaki Τ., (2013), Αθήνα, Ιχνηλατώντας την πόλη με οδηγό την ιστορία και τη λογοτεχνία [Athens, Tracing the city guided by history and literature], ESTIA Bookstore

 

Makrogianni M., (1996), Ματιές στην Αθήνα που έφυγε, [Glances at Athens that is gone] v.2, Filippoti