University of Athens Press

University of Athens Press. The publishing house of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious academic presses in Greece. Founded shortly after the establishment of the university itself, it has played a central role in the dissemination of scholarly research and the preservation of Greek culture and intellectual heritage. Its catalog encompasses a vast array of disciplines, serving as a primary outlet for the work of the university's faculty and the broader Greek academic community.

History

The press was established in 1839, just four years after the founding of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens by Otto of Greece. Its creation was integral to the mission of the nascent university in the post-Greek War of Independence era, aiming to foster a modern Greek intellectual identity. Early publications supported the educational reforms of scholars like Neophytos Vamvas and contributed to the Greek Enlightenment. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it operated through periods of significant national upheaval, including the Balkan Wars, World War II, and the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, consistently maintaining its academic output. Its historical trajectory is closely intertwined with the development of the University of Athens and the evolution of the modern Greek state.

Publications and series

The press maintains an extensive catalog organized into numerous distinguished academic series. Key series include publications from the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Theology, covering fields from archaeology and philology to jurisprudence and patristics. It publishes critical editions of ancient texts, proceedings from major conferences like those of the International Association of Byzantine Studies, and seminal works in modern Greek history. The press also issues the official journals and annals of various university departments, alongside monographs, textbooks, and commemorative volumes for events such as the 500th anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople.

Governance and operations

The press operates under the direct authority of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, governed by the university's Senate and overseen by a specially appointed editorial board. This board typically includes senior professors from key faculties like the School of Science and the School of Health Sciences. Its editorial and peer-review processes adhere to rigorous international academic standards. Financially, it functions as a non-profit entity within the university's structure, with operations supported through institutional funding, sales, and occasional grants from bodies like the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation.

Notable publications

Among its most significant works is the ongoing series of the Corpus Philosophorum Graecorum Recentiorum, editing the works of post-Byzantine Greek philosophers. It has published landmark studies by historians such as Dionysios Zakythinos on the Byzantine Empire and Spyros Asdrachas on Greek economic history. The press's edition of the complete works of the poet Dionysios Solomos is considered definitive. Other notable titles include seminal texts in Greek constitutional law, archaeological reports from sites like the Acropolis of Athens, and the transactions of the Academy of Athens.

Digital initiatives

In recent years, the press has actively pursued digital transformation to expand access to its scholarly corpus. This includes developing an online portal for its publications and exploring open-access models for key journals and series. It participates in digital humanities projects, such as creating searchable databases of historical texts related to the Greek Revolution. Collaborations with institutions like the National Library of Greece aim to digitize parts of its backlist, ensuring the preservation and wider dissemination of crucial works on Hellenic studies to a global audience.

Category:Book publishing companies of Greece Category:National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Category:Academic publishing companies Category:Organizations established in 1839