The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Greek society became inexorably linked during the University's historical course. As Othonian, National, National and Kapodistrian, the University played a leading part in public life, affecting the structure of the Greek state as few institutions have done. It assumed many interchangeable roles over the more than 180 years of its existence, while maintaining its vital impact. It stood by the side of the professors and the student bodyin critical national moments: in the Cretan Revolution, in the Balkan Wars, in the Second World War. It survived through all serious political conflicts, the eviction of King Otto, the National Schism, the Civil War. It participated in the struggle against King Otto, the linguistic issue of the early 20th century, in the demonstrations for Cyprus in post-war Greece. During the years of its operation, it has been subjected to persecutions by dictatorial regimes, such as the 4 August and 21 April. It followed complex and often contradictory directions. The foremost exponent of modern ideas and transporter of ground-breaking European thinking, much feared in the conservative cycles,, became, at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a bastion of Katharevousa (the scholarly Greek language) and an ardent opponent of demoticism in education, and Venizelos' reforms. As few institutions were, it was associated with the mandate for the Europeanization and modernization of the Greek state. Its teaching staff occupied a predominant position in the country's political and social life, while, since the first years of its operation, the student body was an important factor in public life, actively participating in all political and social struggles. Nonetheless, the institution communicated with the Greek society and it was and is, through its own history, a valuable lookout post for understanding the country's history.
German officers celebrate Christmas 1941 in the ceremony hall of the University. Athens University history Museum.
[...]They had asked for the University’s ceremony hall for their New Year's feast. The threat of what could happen to the beautiful historical location after such a wild feast prompted the senate to suggest the "Parnassus" hall. However, the German officers insisted on getting what they demanded, and their feast took place at the University. I hear now that the room looked like a battlefield the next day: everything had been smashed to smithereens. They had shattered the chairs and the tables, and after creating nothing but havoc, they overturned the statues of the rectors and the heroes of 1821, crushing them on the floor. The hordes of Genghis Khan and Attila live again, after so many centuries, in 1942 Athens.»
Minos Dounias, 120 years of free life, and once again, we are slaves.
Article in the newspaper "Athena" that discusses the operation of the Parliament and the Senate in the building of the University of Athens, February 2, 1855.
Library of the Hellenic Parliament.
A legal case document with the personal information of Alexandros Schinas, assassin of King George I, March 1913.
Athens University Criminology Museum.
Prime Minister and Minister of Military Affairs Eleftherios Venizelos informs the administration of the University that the institution will be awarded two medals in honor of the students killed in the First and Second Balkan War, December 18, 1914.
Athens University History Museum.
Members of the government of Demetrios Gounaris departing after an event at the University of Athens, 1915.
ERT S.A. Archive – Petros Poulidis Collection.
Student petition to the Minister of Education to postpone the final degree examinations. Students supporting Venizelos had been persecuted in November 1916 and had been forced to leave Athens. Following Venizelos’ victory in the National Schism and the students’ return to the University, they needed time to prepare properly for their exams, October 15, 1917 . (4/4)
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Student petition to the Minister of Education to postpone the final degree examinations. Students supporting Venizelos had been persecuted in November 1916 and had been forced to leave Athens. Following Venizelos’ victory in the National Schism and the students’ return to the University, they needed time to prepare properly for their exams, October 15, 1917 . (1/4)
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Student petition to the Minister of Education to postpone the final degree examinations. Students supporting Venizelos had been persecuted in November 1916 and had been forced to leave Athens. Following Venizelos’ victory in the National Schism and the students’ return to the University, they needed time to prepare properly for their exams, October 15, 1917 . (2/4)
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Student petition to the Minister of Education to postpone the final degree examinations. Students supporting Venizelos had been persecuted in November 1916 and had been forced to leave Athens. Following Venizelos’ victory in the National Schism and the students’ return to the University, they needed time to prepare properly for their exams, October 15, 1917 . (3/4)
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
King Constantine I arrives at the University of Athens, 1920.
ERT S.A. Archive – Petros Poulidis Collection.
Student rally in the university's quad «for the reconciliation between people and democracy», 1923.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Raising of the flag in the propylaea of the University of Athens. Panagis Tsaldaris is in the photograph, 1930s.
Photographic Archive of MIET/ELIA.
Officers on horseback in front of the University building during the Movement of March 1, 1935.
ERT S.A. Archive – Petros Poulidis Collection.
Students in the University quad during the incidents of May Day, 1936.
ERT S.A. Archive – Petros Poulidis Collection.
Ioannis Metaxas at an event commemorating the University’s centennial, 1937.
Athens University History Museum.
The university professors’ written renunciations of their obligation to pledge obedience to the occupying forces, September 2-6, 1941. Renouncing professors: Petros Kokkalis, Konstantinos Tsatsos, Alexandros Svolos, Nikolaos Veis, Xenophon Zolotas.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The University professors are notified with the Occupation Prime Minister’s Georgios Tsolakoglou’s memorandum towards all civil servants, to take a pledge of obedience to the occupying forces, August 25, 1941.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The university professors’ written renunciations of their obligation to pledge obedience to the occupying forces, September 2-6, 1941. Renouncing professors: Petros Kokkalis, Konstantinos Tsatsos, Alexandros Svolos, Nikolaos Veis, Xenophon Zolotas.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The university professors’ written renunciations of their obligation to pledge obedience to the occupying forces, September 2-6, 1941. Renouncing professors: Petros Kokkalis, Konstantinos Tsatsos, Alexandros Svolos, Nikolaos Veis, Xenophon Zolotas.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The university professors’ written renunciations of their obligation to pledge obedience to the occupying forces, September 2-6, 1941. Renouncing professors: Petros Kokkalis, Konstantinos Tsatsos, Alexandros Svolos, Nikolaos Veis, Xenophon Zolotas.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The university professors’ written renunciations of their obligation to pledge obedience to the occupying forces, September 2-6, 1941. Renouncing professors: Petros Kokkalis, Konstantinos Tsatsos, Alexandros Svolos, Nikolaos Veis, Xenophon Zolotas.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
German officers celebrate Christmas 1942 in the university's ceremony hall.
Athens University history Museum.
The quad of the main building of the University after the vandalisms by drunken German officers at Christmas 1941.
Athens University History Museum.
Marble bust destroyed by German officers at Christmas 1942.
Athens University History Museum.
The University Rector’s G. Balis’ petition to the Occupation Prime Minister Georgios Tsolakoglou to issue an official complaint to the German authorities regarding the German officers’ indecencies and vandalism of the building during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, 3 January 1942.
Athens University History Museum.
Autopsy reports from the Athens Morgue regarding the fighters of ELAS killed in the battle of Ilektriki in Keratsini on October 13, 1944. (2/2)
Athens University Criminology Museum.
Instance of the celebrations for the liberation of Athens on Korai Street, in front of the Propylaea of the University, October 1944.
ERT S.A. Archive – Petros Poulidis Collection.
The crowd swarms the propylaea of the University during the celebrations for the liberation of Athens, October 1944.
Photographic Archive of MIET/ELIA.
Metal shell of a radio station part. The radio station operated in the Old Chemistry Laboratory during the Occupation and transmitted the announcement for the liberation of the city of Athens on October 14, 1944.
Athens University History Museum.
Student march with the banner of the University during the demonstrations for the Cyprus issue, on August 15, 1954.
Athens University History Museum.
Student rally at the propylaea of the University advocating the Union of Cyprus with Greece, 1950s.
Athens University History Museum.
Instance from the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Panepistimioupolis campus buildings. Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Theoklitos II, the Speaker of the Parliament, Konstantinos Rodopoulos, and the Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Kanellopoulos are in the photograph, July 6, 1961.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Maria Kalavrou’s death certificate from the Morgue of Athens, April 22, 1967. Maria Kalavrou was shot in the head by soldiers on the morning of April 21.
University of Athens Criminology Museum.
Event celebrating the feast of the Three Hierarchs (a school holiday) in the ceremony hall of the University during the Dictatorship. "Deputy Prime Minister" Stylianos Pattakos and the "vice-regent" Georgios Zoitakis are in the photograph. January 30, 1969.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
The dismissal of Law School professor Phaedon Vegleris for political reasons, 1968.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
In early 1969, then appointed lecturer Georgios-Alexandros Mangakis was suspended for six months. On March 1968, the Faculty of the Law School had voted and elected him to the post of adjunct professor in the 2nd Chair of Criminal Law, a decision rejected by the dictatorial regime.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Meeting of the Rectors' Committee on the new Framework Law on June 21, 1980 with the participation of then Prime Minister Georgios Rallis (1/2).
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Meeting of the Rectors' Committee on the new Framework Law on June 21, 1980 with the participation of then Prime Minister Georgios Rallis (2/2).
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Reception for then Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, September 9, 1984.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Reception by the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic on the occasion of the University’s sesquicentennial, 1987.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
Then-President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis, declared honorary doctor of Philosophy of the University of Athens, in the presence of then-Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis, 1991.
Historical Archive of the University of Athens.
