The Gennadius Library, also known as the Gennadeion, holds more than 110 thousand volumes on Greek history, literature, and art, covering the period from antiquity to the present day. In addition to books, manuscripts and archival documents related to key events in modern Greek history are exhibited here.
Connoisseurs of world literature will be interested in seeing Lord Byron's personal belongings, such as his seals and gold watch, as well as learning in detail about the English peer's contribution to the struggle for Greek independence: he bought a ship and supplies with his own money, and hired and armed 500 soldiers!
No less interesting is the very history of this library's foundation. Diplomat Ioannis Gennadios, the son of the outstanding scholar, enlightener, and hero of the Greek Revolution Georgios Gennadios, voluntarily donated his father's archives to the newly established National Library of Greece. However, when he visited it several years later, he found no mention of the transferred materials and then decided to find a better place for them. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens showed great interest in the collection. Thus, with financial support from the Carnegie Corporation, a neoclassical building was constructed in central Athens, on the slope of Mount Lycabettus. It was able to accommodate all 26000 volumes from the Gennadios collection with dignity, as well as the numerous editions that were added to the collection later.
