University of Athens History Museum

The Museum of the History of the University of Athens, located in the historic district of Plaka, at the foot of the Acropolis, is an important cultural institution that offers an in-depth look at the history of higher education in Greece. Founded in 1987 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the University of Athens, the museum is housed in one of the oldest residential buildings in the city, known as the Kleanthis-Schaubert House, renovated between 1831 and 1833 by architects Stamatios Kleanthis and Eduard Schaubert. The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and presentation of historical objects related to the University of Athens, the first institution of higher education in modern Greece, founded in 1837. The museum’s collections include rare books and manuscripts of university professors, diplomas, scientific instruments used in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, and pharmacology, photographs, medals, seals, and portraits of distinguished professors. One of the most significant objects is the first student register, covering the period from 1837 to 1867, as well as the University of Athens banner, designed in 1887 by artists Nikolaos Gyzis and Georgios Iakovidis. The permanent exhibitions are distributed on two floors of the building. The first floor is dedicated to the early faculties of the university, such as the School of Law, Dentistry, and Medicine, with objects ranging from early textbooks to rare medical instruments from the 19th century. One of the main attractions is a reconstruction of a dental office from the first half of the 20th century, complete with a hydraulic chair and medical diagnostic instruments of the time, such as a Watson Autonome III X-ray table and various medical examination tools. The second floor displays collections related to the faculties of Philosophy, Theology, and Sciences. Here you can find numerous ancient volumes dealing with linguistics, ethics, theology, archaeology, botany, astronomy, and history. The last room houses an extraordinary collection of scientific instruments, including microscopes, spectroscopes, galvanometers, and a portable seismograph, all beautifully preserved. A distinctive feature of the museum is the interactivity of the exhibitions. For example, a black rotary phone allows visitors to listen to stories of the palace residents during the period from 1940 to 1960, creating a tangible connection to the past. Additionally, a chronological exhibition documents the history of the university within the broader Greek historical context, from the foundation of the Othonian University in 1836 to the inauguration of the Museum of University History in 1987. An interesting anecdote concerns the role of the museum during the German occupation of Greece in World War II. Despite the difficulties of the time, the university remained a symbol of intellectual resistance. University professors refused to swear allegiance to the occupying forces, a courageous gesture that is commemorated in the museum with documents and photographs from that period.