About the Society
The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, generally known as the Hellenic Society, was founded in 1879 to advance the study of Greek language, literature, history, art and archaeology in the Ancient, Byzantine and Modern periods.
It has done this ever since by various means, chief among them being the annual publication of the Journal of Hellenic Studies and, since the 1950s, its supplement, Archaeological Reports, which are both supplied free of charge to members and subscribers of the Society. Occasional monographs have also appeared in the series Supplementary Papers; this series has now been replaced by the Society's Occasional Publications - two of which were published in 2001.
The Society is established, together with the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies in the premises of the Institute of Classical Studies of the University of London.
Click here for map to show the Society's office and library position.
The Society helps to maintain the Joint Library, in conjunction with the Roman Society and the Institute of Classical Studies. Membership of the Hellenic Society allows the reader to use the Joint Library and to borrow (within the UK) up to four books at a time, either in person or by post. Members may also borrow slides from the Joint Library's extensive collection.
The Society also arranges an annual lecture series in London, holds occasional conferences, receptions and other meetings, and helps to arrange other lectures all around the UK in collaboration with the various local branches of the Classical Association. A programme of all these lectures and other meetings is circulated in September to UK based members and is available on request to any interested parties. The Society holds a list of lecturers on topics in Hellenic Studies, which is supplied to Classical Association branches, classical teacher groups, and other organisations on request to help them plan their own lecture programmes.
The Society aims to help those engaged in Hellenic Studies at all levels, and to this end it makes grants of various kinds to schools, universities and other institutions, undergraduates, graduate students and young researchers.
The Society celebrated its 125th Anniversary in the 2003-2004 session with a special programme of meetings, lectures, activities and projects. A report on this anniversary programme can be found in the section on this website.
The Society launched a 125th Anniversary Appeal to raise funds for school activities. This Fund and the activities it sponsors are ongoing. The Society is engaged in numerous projects to support and introduce the study of Greek and Hellenic Studies in schools. In particular we are continue to offer support and bursary schemes for the Greeks at Key Stage 2 in the National Curriculum.