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Forthcoming Events:

3 February-23 March 2012: The University of London Working Seminar on Editing Byzantine Texts resumes its regular meetings on Fridays 16.00-17.45 at The Warburg Institute, University of London, Classroom 2, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB. The Seminar is preparing a new annotated edition and translation of the lengthy Correspondence of George of Cyprus (Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory II, 1283-89). Scholars and graduate students interested in Byzantine texts are welcome to participate. For further information please contact the convenors: Dr Christopher Wright and Dr Konstantinos Palaiologos@rhul.ac.uk.

9 February 2012: Dabis Annual Lecture on “Why Pericles matters?" by Dr Robin Lane Fox, Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History at New College, Oxford and University Reader in Ancient History. His books and articles include major works on Alexander the Great and the relation between the pagan and early Christian religions of the Roman Empire. The Lecture will be held at Royal Holloway College Egham Campus, Windsor Building Auditorium at 6.15pm, to be followed by a reception. All welcome. For further information on the lecture please contact Mrs Marta Baker.

5 March 2012: Eleventh Annual Hellenic Institute Lecture on “The Olympic Games and the Olympic Truce in the Modern World” by Mr Stavros Lambrinidis, formerly Foreign Minister of Greece, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Director-General of the International Olympic Truce Centre. This summer the eyes of the world will be fixed on the Games of the XXXth Olympiad in London, a celebration of peace and friendship, which peoples and nations are invited to join. This historic event offers an opportunity to reflect on the values, principles and institutions that gave rise to the Olympic spirit and ideals in ancient Greece, as expressed in the Olympic Games and the Olympic Truce, and ask to what extent these could help us solve internal and external conflicts and crises the modern world is facing today. The Lecture will be held in the Windsor Building Auditorium at Royal Holloway College Campus, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, on Monday 5th March 2012 at 6.15pm, to be followed by a reception in the Windsor Building Foyer. All welcome. For further information on the Lecture please contact Mrs Marta Baker and Dr Charalambos Dendrinos.

11-12 June 2012: Institute of Classical Studies (ICS) 2012 Byzantine Colloquium: “When East met West: the Reception of Latin Philosophical and theological thought in Late Byzantium”, to be held in Senate House, University of London, Room G22/26, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. For further information please contact the co-organisers: Dr Christopher Wright, Dr Konstantinos Palaiologos or Dr Charalambos Dendrinos.

18 October 2012: International Colloquium "George of Cyprus and his World” to be held at The Hellenic Centre, Great Hall, 16-18 Paddington Street, London W1U 5AS on. Co-organised by The Hellenic Centre, the Hellenic Institute, Royal Holloway, University of London and the Postgraduate Programme of Mediaeval Studies, University of Ioannina, with the kind support of the Society of Cypriot Studies, the Colloquium will be dedicated to the memory of Julian Chrysostomides, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary since her passing away (18.X.2008), and of Constantine Leventis (1938-2002). Speakers include Costas Constantinides, Charalambos Chotzakoglou, Sofia Kotzabassi, Joseph Munitiz SJ, Aristeides Papadakis and Immaculada Pérez Martín. For further information please contact the co-organisers: Professor Costas Constantinides, Dr Christopher Wright, Dr Konstantinos Palaiologos or Dr Charalambos Dendrinos

Recent Events:

18 October 2011: Lecture on “Byzantine Scholars and the Union of the Churches” by Professor Costas Constantinides to commemorate the third anniversary of the passing away of Julian Chrysostomides († 18.X.2008). Co-organised by the Hellenic Institute and The Hellenic Centre, the lecture was held in at The Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone, London W1U 5AS at 7pm, followed by a reception.

10-11 September 2011: The Annual Meeting of Postgraduates in Ancient Literature (AMPAL) Conference was held at RHUL Egham Campus. The theme of the conference was “Power and Manipulation”, which encompasses many different interpretations and specialisations within the field of Classics, including consideration of the power of manipulation or the manipulation of power in Greek and Roman literature, language, politics, historiography, religion, mythology, drama, philosophy, and archaeology. This two-day residential event, co-funded by the Classics & Philosophy Dept. and the Hellenic Institute, was organised by Christina Pouros, Giulia Brunetta and Katie East.

22-27 August 2011: The 22nd International Congress of Byzantine Studies was held at the University of Sofia “St.Kliment Ohridski”, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria. Organized by the Bulgarian Association of Byzantinists and Medievists under the auspices of the Association Internationale des Études Byzantines the Congress, exlpored all aspects of Byzantine Studies under the general theme “Byzantium Without Borders”.

8-9 July 2011: Interdisciplinary Workshop and Conference “The Crusades, Islam and Byzantium” held at the German Historical Institute, London. For further information please contact Professor Jonathan Philips

25 May-29 July 2011: Exhibition “’Out of the Original Sacred Tongues’: The Bible and Translation” in the great Hall of Lambeth Palace celebrating 400 years of the King James Bible. This exhibition set in historical context the translation of the sacred texts of the Bible into the languages of everyday life. On display was a wide range of important manuscripts and books offering a glimpse into the practical processes involved, as well as the motives behind these great achievements. At the centre of the exhibition was the 1611 edition of the King James Version, set in the context of the scholarship which created it. Other highlights of the exhibition include: Medieval English Bible translations and documents relating to their suppression; the landmark editions which drew on the new textual scholarship of the Renaissance and Reformation, including the first edition of Erasmus' New Testament in Greek (1516); early printed vernacular translations in a variety of languages such as the first edition of Luther's German Bible, as well as the first complete Bible in Icelandic; translations intended for missions, such as Gospel editions in Maori and Mohawk; documents showing the drive towards modern English translations for the twentieth century.

5 July 2011: Illustrated lecture on “Cyprus and the Sinai Icons” by Professor Robin Cormack at The Hellenic Centre, Great Hall, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone, London W1U 5AS at 7pm. The lecture was sponsored by the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies. For further information please contact Mr Michael Heslop.

30 June 2011: the College received Mr Anastasios P. Leventis, Chairman of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

7 April-29 August 2011: Exhibition “Heracles to Alexander the Great” at the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH, showing more than 500 objects discovered in the royal burial tombs and the palace at Aegae, the ancient capital of Macedon. Most of these objects were displayed for the first time anywhere in the world. They rewrote the history of early Greece and told the story of the royal court and the kings and queens of Macedon, descendants of Heracles whose rule culminated in the empire of Alexander the Great. Aegae remained relatively unknown until 30 years ago when excavations by Professor Manolis Andronikos uncovered the unlooted tombs of Philip II and his grandson Alexander IV. Recent work at the site by the 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, has continued to unearth a startling wealth of objects – from beautifully intricate gold jewellery, silverware and pottery, to sculpture, mosaic floors and architectural remains. The exhibition was organised under the aegis of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Mr George A. Papandreou, in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.

8 March 2011: Lunch in honour of Friends of the Hellenic Institute at the Large Boardroom, Founder's Building, followed by the planting of memorial trees for Julian Chrysostomides and Pat Macklin in College grounds (International Building). For further information please contact Dr Charalambos Dendrinos

3 March 2011: The Dabis Lecture 'From Mimesis to Aristotle for Screenwriters: What can a Modern Writer Learn from trhe Ancient Greeks about Writing?' by Dr Apostolos Doxiadis held at Royal Holloway College Egham Campus, Windsor Building Auditorium at 6.15pm. Modern writers see in Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides masters of narrative structure, while Hollywood screenwriting manuals pay tribute to Aristotle's Poetics. Yet, this is chiefly becuase we read the Greeks in ways which are biased by our own storytelling habits. By attempting to understand Greek literature in its original context, a writer can become much more aware of its differences from modern works -- and learn much more from it. For further information on this lecture please contact Dr Anne Sheppard and Mrs Marta Baker.

9 February 2011: It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Dr Elfride Bickersteth (12.III.1925-21.I.2011), Friend and supporter of the Hellenic Institute. Elfride passed away peacefully at Hull Royal Infirmary on 21st January 2011. A classicist and patristic scholar, Elfride also contributed to the Lampe Patristic Greek Lexicon and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. She will be remembered with deep affection, respect and admiration for her generosity, gentleness and humanity, for her scholarship and love for Hellenism and the Orthodox Church. A Funeral Service was performed at St Mary, The Virgin, Cottingham on Friday 4 February. At the request of the family donations in Elfride's memory should be made to the Royal British Legion or Christian Aid. May her gentle soul rest in peace. Αιωνία της η μνήμη.

7 February 2011: Tenth Annual Hellenic Institute Lecture on 'The Hellenic Cup and TA EROTIKA' by Bettany Hughes wase held at Royal Holloway College Egham Campus, Windsor Building Auditorium at 6.15pm. Drawing evidence from both new archaeological digs and modern, mass-market interpretations of Hellenic culture, Dr Hughes analysed the role of ancient Hellenic ideas in the future of a fragile, global world. She drew particularly on her new life of Socrates 'The Hemlock Cup' which tries to understand the mission of Socrates in its physical, real-world context. Bettany Hughes has just been awarded the Naomi Sargent Education Award for Broadcast Excellence and has been give a special award for servoices to Hellenic Culture and heritage. She is a visiting research fellow of King's College London and lectures both in the UK and abroad. Her book on Helen of Troy has now been translated into ten languages and her films on ancient Greece have been seen by over 100 million world wide. For further information on the lecture please contact Dr Charalambos Dendrinos and Mrs Marta Baker.

20 January 2011: Lecture on "Chant manuscripts and musical notation in Byzantium: early evidence and development, 6th century - c. 1150" by Dr Christian Troelsgaard (University of Copenghagen), co-organised by the Classics Department and the Hellenic Institute,was held at the International Building, Seminar Room IN244, Royal Holloway College Campus, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX at 6pm. For further information please contact Professor Jonathan Powell and Dr Charalambos Dendrinos.

Past Events:

Colloquium on Greek Concepts of Political Friendship and Enmity, June 2008