The Institute of Historical Research (IHR) is dedicated to the study of the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental history of the Greek world and the wider regions where Hellenism has flourished, from prehistoric antiquity to the present day.

The Institute was established in 2012 through the merger of the three humanities research institutes of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (CGRA, CBR, andCINR), the oldest research centers in Greece devoted exclusively to historical and philological studies.

The IHR carries out research and educational activities that focus on historical documentation and interpretation, the production and dissemination of new knowledge, and the training of emerging scholars. In doing so, it contributes both to national self-understanding and to the international scholarly presence of Greece.

Newsroom

The 13th International Round Table on Polychromy in Ancient Sculpture and Architecture: “Polychromy and the Senses: Integrating Scientific, Cognitive, and Aesthetic Perspectives on Ancient Colour”, seeks submissions for papers related to innovative projects and methods in interdisciplinary polychromy research under two rubrics, the principal theme “Polychromy and the Senses” and, as customary, “News from Current Research”.

An international training school is planned to introduce students and scholars of Byzantium to the discipline of Byzantine sigillography. The Training School is open to Master students and doctoral candidates, as well as postdoctoral researchers in Byzantine Studies and related fields (such as Classics or Medieval Studies).

Launched within the framework of ERC funded project Byz-GOVAG: Agents of Cohesion in the Governance of an Empire: The Anthropo-Geography of Byzantium, 7th to 12th Centuries, the school is organised by Olga Karagiorgou (Academy of Athens, KEMBT, Director of Research / Principal Investigator of the Byz-GOVAG project) and Christos Malatras (National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Historical Research, Associate Researcher) in collaboration with the Numismatic Museum.

In this podcast, Vyron Antoniadis, Senior Researcher in the Institute of Historical Research, talks about the island of Delos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods (3rd century – 1st century BCE). What was the importance of Delos during that period? Why did Delos become the biggest port in the eastern Mediterranean? Who lived on Delos? What did the inhabitants do for a living? Was ancient Delos the Mykonos of ancient times?

 

Listen on Spotify  Listen on YouTube

The AmphiPoly research project aims to scientifically document the reconstruction of the monument’s original appearance, including its polychromy and iconography, in all its chronological phases. Digital, three-dimensional representation and aesthetic restoration is implemented, based on archaeometric measurements, digital tools, and historical-archaeological research.

 

“ΙστορΙΙΕς του ΙΙΕ” new podcast : The Ancient Macedonians

In this podcast, Paschalis Paschidis, Director of Research in the Institute of Historical Research, talks about the ancient Macedonians. Who were they? What language did they speak? How did southern Greeks view the inhabitants of Macedonia? Why did Demosthenes call the Macedonians ‘barbarians’? Is it important that Macedonia was ruled by a monarchy? How can we write the history of ancient Macedonia?

 

Listen on Spotify  Listen on YouTube

Events

This year’s numismatic seminar will be held in hybrid mode. The aim of the seminar is to demonstrate the strength of the numismatic research in Greece by pointing out the links and interactions of the discipline with history and archaeology.

Organised by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA), the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) and the École française d’Athènes (EFA).

November 04, 2025 - May 18, 2026
19:00

French School in Athens,  (6 Didotou str.) & Online

This year’s numismatic seminar will be held in hybrid mode. The aim of the seminar is to demonstrate the strength of the numismatic research in Greece by pointing out the links and interactions of the discipline with history and archaeology.

Organised by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA), the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) and the École française d’Athènes (EFA).

November 04, 2025 - May 18, 2026
19:00

French School in Athens,  (6 Didotou str.) & Online

Muhabbet is an initiative aiming at bringing together scholars, students, and people interested in the shared social history and cultural heritage of the East Mediterranean. We wish to hold discussions about our common legacies in an informal and friendly environment, like that of the coffeehouses, which originated in the Ottoman East Mediterranean, where people used to come together to develop amicable conversations called muhabbet.

 

The initiative is endorsed by the Demos Center, the Institute of Hellenic Culture and Liberal Arts, ACG; the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation.

January 27 - May 26, 2026
SNR

Muhabbet is an initiative aiming at bringing together scholars, students, and people interested in the shared social history and cultural heritage of the East Mediterranean. We wish to hold discussions about our common legacies in an informal and friendly environment, like that of the coffeehouses, which originated in the Ottoman East Mediterranean, where people used to come together to develop amicable conversations called muhabbet.

 

The initiative is endorsed by the Demos Center, the Institute of Hellenic Culture and Liberal Arts, ACG; the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation.

January 27 - May 26, 2026
SNR

The Seminars on Greek and Roman Antiquity aim at presenting the most recent findings of research on the ancient Greek and Roman World, as well as on the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. They aspire to engage all disciplines relating to the study of the ancient world, focusing both on the written sources and on the material evidence, through the participation of experienced as well as younger scholars.

Co-organised by the Institute of Historical Research of the NHRF, the Department of History and Archaeology of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and the École Française d’Athènes.

October 2025 – June 2026

French School in Athens (6 Didotou str., Athens) & Online

The Seminars on Greek and Roman Antiquity aim at presenting the most recent findings of research on the ancient Greek and Roman World, as well as on the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. They aspire to engage all disciplines relating to the study of the ancient world, focusing both on the written sources and on the material evidence, through the participation of experienced as well as younger scholars.

Co-organised by the Institute of Historical Research of the NHRF, the Department of History and Archaeology of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and the École Française d’Athènes.

October 2025 – June 2026

French School in Athens (6 Didotou str., Athens) & Online

Νοοτροπίες, συναισθήματα και δίκτυα επικοινωνίας ουμανιστών και καλλιτεχνών στο Βυζάντιο και στην Ιταλία την περίοδο της «Αναγέννησης» (13ος-16ος αι.)

February 18 – June 03, 2026
On Wednesdays, 16.00-18.00

University of Athens Historical Archive

SBR

Νοοτροπίες, συναισθήματα και δίκτυα επικοινωνίας ουμανιστών και καλλιτεχνών στο Βυζάντιο και στην Ιταλία την περίοδο της «Αναγέννησης» (13ος-16ος αι.)

February 18 – June 03, 2026
On Wednesdays, 16.00-18.00

University of Athens Historical Archive

SBR

Lecture Series in Byzantine History, literature, art and archaeology

Organised by: Kostis Smyrlis, Marina Koumanoudi and Stratis Papaioannou
Institute of Historical Research, NHRF

February 16 - June 22, 2026
18:00

Princeton Athens Center

SBR

Lecture Series in Byzantine History, literature, art and archaeology

Organised by: Kostis Smyrlis, Marina Koumanoudi and Stratis Papaioannou
Institute of Historical Research, NHRF

February 16 - June 22, 2026
18:00

Princeton Athens Center

SBR

Recent publications

Archaeology of Colour

Archaeology of Colour

Technical Art History Studies in Greek and Roman Painting and Polychromy

Edited by: Hariclia Brecoulaki

Press Releases

The AmphiPoly research project aims to scientifically document the reconstruction of the monument’s original appearance, including its polychromy and iconography, in all its chronological phases. Digital, three-dimensional representation and aesthetic restoration is implemented, based on archaeometric measurements, digital tools, and historical-archaeological research.

 

The AmphiPoly research project aims to scientifically document the reconstruction of the monument’s original appearance, including its polychromy and iconography, in all its chronological phases. Digital, three-dimensional representation and aesthetic restoration is implemented, based on archaeometric measurements, digital tools, and historical-archaeological research.

 

Main page image: Photo: Giannis Voulgarakis