The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greek: Εθνικόν και Καποδιστριακόν Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is the oldest university in the region of the eastern Mediterranean and has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837. A professor giving a lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology A university is an institution of higher education and of research, which grants academic degrees. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Today, it is the second-largest institution of higher learning in Greece, with more than fifty thousand undergraduate students. Its main campus is in Ilissia, where the schools of Science, Theology and Philosophy are located. Other smaller campuses are at Goudi, where the School of Health Sciences is located, and at Daphne, where the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science is located. The Faculties of Media, Education, Economics, Law and Public Administration are housed in buildings in the centre of Athens. The historical administration building is also located there, on Panepistimiou avenue.

History

It was founded on 1837 April 3 on the initiative of King Otto, and thus initially called Othonian University. It started regular operations on 1839 in the house of Stamatios Kleanthis at the foot of the Acropolis. 1841 saw the completion of the new university building, designed by Danish architect Theofil Hansen as part of the 'Trilogy', in the center of Athens. Today the university rectory is housed there. On 1843, the university was renamed National University. 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... Otto of Greece entering Náfplio, Peter von Hess, 1835. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Stamatis or Stamatios Kleanthis (Σταμάτιος Κλεάνθης) (1802 - 1862) was a Greek architect. ... This article refers to acropoleis in general. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Theofil von Hansen was the architect that designed most of Athens neo-classical buildings in the 19th century, after the nations liberation from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The university took its present name in 1911, because of a large endowment by the merchant Ioannis Dombolis, a friend of John Capodistria, for the creation of a Capodistrian University. 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... John Capodistria John Capodistria (in Greek Ioannis Kapodistrias or Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας, and in Italian Giovanni Capo dIstria, Count Capo dIstria) (February 11, 1776 - October 9, 1831) was a Greek-born diplomat of the Russian Empire and later first head of state of independent Greece. ...

See also

• Education in Greece
• List of universities in Greece

The Greek educational system has undergone significant changes and modernisations during the 1990s. ... A listing of universities in Greece. ...

External links

• University of Athens web site