28/02/2026
The BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece mourns the demise of Emerita Professor of Latin Philology Eleni Karamalengou, former Dean of the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the Programme's first Director, whose sudden passing has filled our academic community with profound grief.
Professor Karamalengou was an eminent and deeply influential figure who served the University with rare integrity, courage, and unwavering dedication. A visionary reformer, she championed the international openness of the School of Philosophy and played a decisive role in forging academic links with institutions in the People’s Republic of China, enabling the sustained presence of Chinese students at NKUA from 2017 onwards. Most significantly for our Programme, she was the inspirer and driving force behind the establishment of Greece’s first English-language undergraduate degree, the BA in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG), whose first cohort was admitted in 2020. Her leadership reshaped the academic landscape of the country and created
opportunities for generations of students from across the world.
Throughout her distinguished career, Professor Karamalengou combined intellectual excellence with moral courage and an acute sense of justice. She defended the academic community with determination, notably during the 2013 crisis affecting university administrative staff, and served with distinction in numerous institutional roles, including Head of the Department of Philology and Dean of the School of Philosophy.
Born in Constantinople, she brought with her a cosmopolitan spirit and a profound humanism that marked both her scholarship and her public service. A prolific scholar of Latin literature—especially of the late Republic and Augustan age—she leaves an enduring legacy of research, leadership, and generosity.
Her loss leaves an irreplaceable void. Her vision, courage, and humanity will remain a guiding example for our Programme and for the University as a whole. May her memory be eternal.
