Public Lectures at the Gennadius Library

Academic lectures by leading scholars or panel discussions of specialists on various topics are intended to communicate current research and important scholarly discoveries with the public in English or in Greek. Pending on the approval of the speaker, our lectures are livestreamed and archived. To receive notifications about events organized by the Gennadius Library click here.

The Annual Walton Lecture was established in 1982 to honor Francis Walton, a most beloved librarian who brought grandeur and fame to the Library during his tenure (1961-1976). This lecture brings to Athens leading intellectuals whose work has contributed to knowledge and, as a result, they themselves contribute to the development of the Library into a premier scholarly institution.

The Thalia Potamianos Annual Lecture Series on the Impact of Greek Culture is the result of a visionary initiative by Gennadius Library Overseer Mr. Phokion Potamianos. Every other year, since 2021, a highly distinguished, internationally renowned scholar offers three public keynote lectures on a topic that examines the reception and continuing relevance and impact of Greek thought and culture.The program creates a stimulating environment to draw both the academic community and the general public to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Gennadius Library.

The Gennadius general lecture series has been made possible thanks to funding from Lloyd Cotsen. A chronological listing of all Gennadius lectures can be found here.