The National Library of Athens

The first public library in Greece was founded in Aegina by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1829 and was later moved to Athens in 1834, where it was temporarily housed in various old buildings and finally in the building of the University. As early as 1858, King Otto had given the order to Danish architect Theophil Hansen (brother of Christian Hansen) to study the creation of a library next to the University, which was under construction at the time. Eventually, in 1884, Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis took the initiative to build the library, which was funded by a donation from Panagiis Vallianos, a Greek expatriate from Russia, and completed with a contribution from the Public Treasury.

Following this decision, the National Library was constructed as part of the Neoclassical Trilogy of Athens (Academy, University, and Library) between 1887 and 1902, under the supervision of Ernst Ziller. The building consists of three compact sections, with the central and largest section housing the reading room. The entrance is through a portico in the Doric style, modeled after the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora (Hephaesteion or Theseion). A monumental curved double staircase in Renaissance style leads up to the portico. The reading room, surrounded by Ionic columns, is covered with a glass roof. The cast-iron bookcases were considered remarkable for their time. The building is generally regarded as an example of mature Neoclassicism. Today, it houses the Public Library, the most complete one in Greece. Pictured: The National Library of Athens in 1890. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.